(青ヶ島) Aogashima Trip Guide

 

Aogashima can ONLY be accessed from Hachijo-jima, so it has to be a two for one trip. 

Budget: JPY21,980 (~USD209)

• JPY7,970, less 15% discount if booked 14 days prior. Ferry, Tokyo to Hachijio-jima
• JPY2,520. Ferry, Hachijo-jima to Aogashima
• JPY2,520. Ferry, Aogashima to Hachijo-jima
• JPY1,000. Bus Pass, Hachijo-jima
• JPY7,970, less 15% discount if booked 14 days prior. Ferry, Hachijiojima to Tokyo
• *JPY11,750 if flying from Aogashima to Hachijo-jima. 

Visit Date 

• Target: 2021
• Here's the blog post for a combined (八丈島) Hachijo-jima & (青ヶ島) Aogashima trip.

When to Go

• Anytime during the year! It is apparently warm throughout the year, so for those who wish to escape the winter cold, then this is the right place.
• Hachijo-jima Freesia Flower festival - around end of March to early April.

Special Notes

Access

• Access requires going to Hachijo-jima first, and then from Hachijo-jima to Aogashima. I don't want the post to be too content heavy, so just see blog post for Hachijojima access. 
• By Ferry. One way fare is JPY2,520. 
• Cancellations are common given the sea conditions. People are informed by 7am daily for the status.
• Schedule at http://www.izu-syotou.jp/route01/index_e.html?date=20200727, reservations not needed. Not in operation on Sundays, holidays are not consistent, so check the schedule in the link beforehand.  
• 9:30am, Hachijo-jima -> 12:30pm, Aogashima
• 12:50pm, Aogashima -> 03:50pm, Hachijo-jima OR
• 01:30pm, Aogashima ->  04:30pm, Hachijo-jima
• By Helicopter. One way fare is JPY11,750. Reservations at http://tohoair-tal.jp/ . They only accept reservations a month in advance.  There's a 5kg allowance, and every kg in excess costs JPY240. 
• If without reservations, you'll have to come in an hour before. Which is quite risky, given that there are only nine seats. 
• Flight schedule as follows:
• 09:20am, Hachijo-ijma -> 09:40am, Aogashima. Check in from 8:30 to 8:50.
• 09:45am, Aogashima -> 10:05am, Hachijo-jima. Check in from 8:55 to 9:15.

Transportation within the Island

• It doesn't seem like there is public transportation in the island. To be fair, to go from the port to the tip of the island is a 3.6km walk. (or a bit more than an hour according to google maps, so I'd put it at 2 hours)

Accommodations:

• Hostel. The cheapest I can find is JPY7,800 a night, including shuttle service pick up. They are listed here, and when I checked, they are not really listed on the normal reservation sites. 
• Reservations only accepted about a month before arrival. I tried calling two months in advance, they said no. Haha. 
• Camping. Google maps pin here. Closed for 2020-2022 due to covid. Reservations required (via email). The guide is at the bottom of the this link. The camping ground is 1.5kms away from the port, about 30 minutes walk according to google maps. 

Activities

• Mainly walking around it seems. 

References:

• http://tokyoislands.jp/aogashima-islands-perfect-guide-must-see-spots-activities-accommodation-and-access

Itinerary

Day 0.

• 10:30pm. Ferry, Tokyo Port to Hachijiojima.  JPY7,970, less 15% discount if booked 14 days prior.

Day 1.

• 08:55am. ETA: Hachijiojima. With an 8:55am arrival time, it's impossible to make it on time for the helicopter's last call of 8:50am. 
• 09:30am. Ferry, Hachijiojima to Aogashima, JPY2,520 one way. 
• 12:30pm. ETA: Aogashima. Walk to the camp area. Explore Aoshima. 
• Spend the night. 

Day 2.

• 09:45am. If the weather is cooperating, try to book a flight back. Otherwise, take the ferry. 
• 12:50pm. Ferry, Aogashima to Hachijojima
• 03:50pm. ETA: Hachijojima. Go to the camp area.

Day 3. 

• 09:40am. Ferry, Hachijijima to Tokyo
• 07:50pm. ETA: Tokyo.