Japan's Hidden Islands: Discover a Different Side of Japan

Did You Know Japan Has 14,125 Islands?

Japan is home to 14,125 islands (as of March 2026), offering a wide variety of landscapes, cultures, and unique experiences beyond the country's major cities.

Of these islands, 417 are inhabited, and 38 of Japan's 47 prefectures have islands. The nine prefectures without islands are Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shiga, Osaka, and Nara.

From contemporary art destinations to ancient forests and tropical jungles, explore some of Japan's most unique islands!

Naoshima, Kagawa: Japan's Art Island

Naoshima is where contemporary art meets island life.

From Yayoi Kusama's iconic yellow pumpkin to the Chichu Art Museum, art is everywhere, from museums to the coastline.

What Makes This Island Different?

Chichu Art Museum

Yayoi Kusama's Pumpkin

Art installations by the sea

Miyajima, Hiroshima: An Island with a Floating Shrine on the Sea

You may know its famous torii gate, but did you know Miyajima is an island?

Explore Itsukushima Shrine, meet the island's friendly deer, and snack your way through the charming streets.

What Makes This Island Different?

Itsukushima Shrine (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Free-roaming deer

Momiji manju & local treats

Yakushima, Kagoshima: Step Into a Real-Life Fairytale

A lush island covered in ancient forests, moss-covered trees, and misty mountain landscapes.

Yakushima is home to Jomon Sugi, one of Japan's most famous ancient trees, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What Makes This Island Different?

Ancient cedar forests

Jomon Sugi

Moss-covered trails (believed to be an inspiration for Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke)

Sado Island, Niigata: A Japan Unlike Anywhere Else

Once known for its gold mines, Sado has developed a culture and lifestyle unlike mainland Japan.　Ride a traditional tub boat, search for the endangered Japanese crested ibis, and explore the island's unique traditions.

What Makes This Island Different?

Sado Gold Mine

Traditional tub boats

Japanese crested ibis

Sado's unique culture

Iriomote Island, Okinawa: Japan's Jungle Island

With a dense jungle,  mangrove forests and hidden waterfalls,Iriomote feels worlds away from the Japan you know.  Explore the island by kayak or boat, and keep an eye out for the Iriomote wildcat, found nowhere else in the world.

What Makes This Island Different?

Mangrove kayaking

Tropical jungle

Iriomote wildcat (critically endangered species)

Waterfalls & rivers

Ishigaki & the Yaeyama Islands: Gateway to Island-Hopping

Crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches are just the beginning.

From Ishigaki, hop aboard a boat and discover the beautiful islands of the Yaeyama Islands, each with its own personality.

What Makes These Islands Different?

Tropical beaches

Snorkeling & diving

Island hopping

Okinawan island culture

Other Unique Islands Located in Tokyo

Aogashima, Tokyo

A tiny volcanic island located far out in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by dramatic cliffs.

The village sits high on the outer rim, where residents live high above the sea, looking down from the cliffs.

It is one of Japan's most remote inhabited islands.

Getting There（Getting there is part of the adventure!）

-2.5-hour ferry ride from Hachijojima

• -20-minute helicopter flight

Best Time to Visit

With calmer weather, April through June is generally one of the easier times to reach Aogashima.

Chichi-jima, Tokyo

Located about 1,000 km from mainland Japan, Chichi-jima is one of the remote islands of the Ogasawara Islands.

With almost no artificial light at night and no large islands nearby, it is known for having some of the darkest skies in Japan, making it an incredible place for stargazing.

Getting There

Take a ferry from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo for a 24-hour ride to Chichi-jima.

Good to Know

Once you arrive, the next ferry to the mainland is 3 days later!