Wildlife swimming in Ogasawara Islands

The Ogasawara Islands sit a thousand kilometres south of Tokyo and have no airport. The only way there is a ferry that leaves the capital roughly once a week, takes a full twenty-four hours, and by its very timetable dictates the trip: you are on the islands for about six days at minimum, whether you like it or not. That inaccessibility is the whole character of the place.

What you reach is a subtropical archipelago that has never been joined to any continent — the 'Galápagos of the Orient', with species found nowhere else on earth. Humpback whales calve in the surrounding waters through winter, and pods of dolphins let you slip in and swim alongside them from a small boat.

Ferry sailings are infrequent and sell out, and the schedule sets the length of your stay. Parts of the islands require permits and accredited guides under the UNESCO management rules — so plan around the boat first, and fit everything else around it.

The Ogasawara Islands sit a thousand kilometres south of Tokyo with no airport — the only way there is a ferry that leaves roughly once a week, takes a full twenty-four hours, and by its timetable dictates the trip: you are on the islands about six days minimum, whether you like it or not.

That inaccessibility is the whole character of the place. What you reach is a subtropical archipelago never joined to any continent — the 'Galápagos of the Orient', with species found nowhere else on earth.

Humpback whales calve in the surrounding waters through winter, and pods of dolphins let you slip in and swim alongside them from a small boat.

Plan around the boat first and fit everything else around it: ferry sailings are infrequent, sell out, and set the length of your stay, so book the crossing from Tokyo as your first move.

Come in the humpback window, February to April, or the summer months for dolphins and warm water. Parts of the islands require permits and accredited guides under the UNESCO management rules, so arrange guided swims through island operators.

Basic snorkelling ability is enough; children from around thirteen can usually take part. Bring or hire a wetsuit and reef-safe sun protection, and treat the 24-hour ferry each way as part of the adventure.