Islands in Japan

Discover 18 unusual islands in Japan.

The duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.

Shimonoseki, Japan

Ganryū-jima

The site of a famous samurai duel.

Oshima Island and the red Togetsukyō Bridge

Matsushima, Japan

Matsushima Bay

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

Sado Island Tub Boats.

Sado Island's Tarai Bune

These unconventional "tub boats" let locals row around the island's turbulent coast.

Drummers parading down the streets in Sado.

Earth Celebration

Japan's longest-running music festival takes place on an isolated butterfly-shaped island.

Nokubi Church

Ojika-chō, Japan

Nozaki Island

A deserted island in southwest Japan that once sheltered persecuted Christians.

Okishima cat.

Ōmihachiman-shi, Japan

Okishima Island

A Japanese cat island also populated by the descendants of a band of banished samurai.

Shimanami Kaido cycling.

Onomichi, Japan

Shimanami Kaido Bikeway

The 43-mile route crosses through six islands with gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea.

Nishinoshima continues to erupt.

Ogasawara, Japan

Nishinoshima

This volcanic island in the Pacific just keeps growing and growing.

Historical Fortress of Izena Castle.

Izena-son, Japan

Izena Island

Ruins and statues dot the landscape of this tiny island rich with royal history.

A fukugi-lined road in Bise Village.

Bise Village

A network of sandy streets lined with verdant fukugi trees weaves throughout this tiny seaside town.

Fierce little cat.

Ishinomaki, Japan

Cat Island

On Japan's Tashirojima Island, cats are king.

One of Yayoi Kusama's wonderful pumpkins.

Naoshima, Japan

Bennesse Art Site Naoshima

A Japanese corporation has turned this small island town into living modern art gallery.

Maruyama in Aogashima, Tokyo.

Aogashima, Japan

Aogashima Volcano

We heard you like volcanoes so we put a volcano in your volcano so you can die for sure...

Foraminifera

Taketomi, Japan

The Star Sands of Hoshizuna-no-hama

White beach sands made of the remains of tiny, star shaped creatures.

Sarushima Island

Yokosuka, Japan

Sarushima - "Monkey Island"

A small island with no monkeys but plenty of military ruins.

The active volcano on Miyakejima. (Creative Commons)

Miyakejima, Japan

Gas Mask Tourism on the Izu Islands

Sulphuric gases inhabit a beautiful Japanese island.