MIKURASHIMAPERFECT GUIDE

The main draw of the island is the chance to swim with wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. (April to November). There are currently around 160 of them living in the waters surrounding the island. If you want to swim with the dolphins, you need to book the tour. In the tour, you will wear wetsuits, goggles and fins. Ride on the boat, find dolphins and swim with dolphins by snorkeling. If you don’t want to swim but want to see dolphins, it is possible to watch dolphins from the boat, no need for wetsuits.

What’s more, from the dolphin watching boats, you get to see waterfalls that flow directly into the ocean. Don’t be fooled by its size – this island has a lot of nature to offer.

Mikurashima is home to more than 700 giant trees and a diversity of wild birds. While there are some areas accessible without a guide, most areas require that you go with one. However there are some places where you don’t need guides.

Trekking Without a Guide: Tanteiro Course

The only course that you can walk without a guide is the Tanteiro course. On this course you’ll get to see Itajii Chinkapin, a species of giant trees that you will find on Mikurashima. Walk north for half an hour on a public road to reach the tree.

The tree, tall and wide, appears as though it’s reaching its arms out. While walking on the road, keep an eye out for a sign with the number ‘30’ on it. This is a good route if you have an activity packed schedule but you still want to squeeze in a hike.

There are plenty of other courses that require a guide. If you want to save money, but want to enjoy all the other nature activities that the island has to offer, the Tanteiro course is a good option.

If you are planning on a dolphin swim, first check the schedule. The activity is only open from the middle of April to the middle of November. Please keep in mind that since the customers are chosen by a lottery 2 or 3 months in advance, the weekends are mostly fully booked. We recommend to come on weekdays.

Let’s start planning by booking a program!

If you’re looking to book a dolphin swim tour along with accommodation and meals, the Marugoto Mikurashima Tour is perfect for you. They provide three meals a day, except for breakfast on the first day and lunch on the last day. If you have any dietary preferences, such as being vegetarian or having religious restrictions, you can request specific ingredients to be excluded. Additionally, if you’re interested in hiking, the guides are also nature experts who can take you through the lush forests or recommend other guides. This tour is a great option! All you need to do is book your boat tickets.

Marugoto Mikurashima Tour
TEL : + 81-4994-8-2605
E-mail : marugotomikura@gmail.com
Address:Mubanchi, Mikurashima, Tokyo, Japan
Website:https://tokyoislands.jp/post/activities/mikurashima-marugoto-tour

Also the following companies can take reservations in English.

UMITONCHU
TEL : + 81-4994-8-2218
E-mail : umiton_chu1969@yahoo.co.jp
Address:Mubanchi Mikurashima Tokyo,100-1301,JAPAN
Website:http://umiton.blue.coocan.jp/pg433.html

The following shop offers trekking tours in addition to dolphin swims. If you wish, they can even help with booking accommodation – ask at the time of booking.

Mio Yanagase
TEL : +81-90-3877-0030
E-mail : bluemoonocean@kxd.biglobe.ne.jp
Address: Mikurashima-mura Tokyo 100-1301

If you don’t stay at Japanese inn, you need to eat lunch or dinner outside. In Mikurashima, there is only 1 place for lunch and 1 place for dinner. The restaurants are not big, so sometimes it is better to make a reservation or go earlier.

The list of the restaurants here: https://mikura-isle.com/category/shops/ (Only Japanese)

If you come by the large ship, the ship arrives early morning. So better to bring what you want to eat for breakfast for the first day. Even though there are some grocery shops there is no guarantee they will be well stocked. So you may want to bring breakfast for the second day as well just in case.

If keeping down the cost is your top priority, the large boat is your best option. Takeshiba-sanbashi Pier in Tokyo to Mikurajima is roughly seven and a half hours. The boat departs at around 10PM and arrives at around 6:30AM the next morning. The travel time may be longer but you get to keep down the costs as it’s 26,280 yen for a round trip. That’s roughly half the cost of flying. Plus, you will reach your destination without the need for any transfers.

The only problem – due to weather conditions the boats servicing Mikurashima aren’t as reliable. In the summer roughly 90% of boats make it to the island, while in the winter it can be as low as 30%. It’s best to go for this option if your schedule is flexible.

Book a trip from Takeshiba port in Tokyo to Mikurashima through Tokyo Islands.

If you’re going by boat, make sure to check that the boat is in service on the day of your departure.

Updates are posted on the boat operator’s site, but as it’s only available in Japanese, we recommend calling by phone.

Tokai Kisen: +81-3-5472-9999

If you prefer not to be on a boat for too long, or you’re worried about getting lost on the way, the easiest way of getting there is to fly from Haneda to Hachijojima, and from there switch to a helicopter to Mikurashima.

There are three flights departing from Haneda to Hachijojima every day. The flight time is just 55 minutes – significantly shorter than by boat.

This route is convenient as the flight departs from Haneda, which is easily accessible from the city. Take a train from Tokyo station and you’ll be at Haneda airport in just 40 minutes. The only downside? The flight to Hachijojima alone will set you back ¥20,000.

Book flights to Hachijojima through ANA.

From Hachijojima, get to Mikurashima by helicopter. As boats are easily affected by weather and sea conditions, you have a better chance of reaching the island if you fly.

Book a helicopter ride from Hachijojima to Mikurajima through Tokyo Ai-land Shuttle.

Getting to Mikurashima from Hachijojima costs ¥12,820, totaling to roughly ¥33,000 for a one-way trip.

It’s not the cheapest option, but the ease of getting to Haneda airport, with a total flight time of just one hour and a half, and the fact that there’s a better chance of landing on the island compared to sea transportation make this an attractive way of getting to the island.

If you’re looking to cut down on travel time while still keeping down the costs, your best option is to fly out of Chōfu Airport to Miyakejima, and from there switch to a helicopter to Mikurajima.

There are three flights departing from Chōfu Airport to Miyakejima every day.

While the flight time to Miyakejima is a short 50 minutes, Chōfu Airport is farther out of the city than Haneda airport (for access to Chōfu Airport, see here). From Tokyo station, it takes roughly one hour and fifteen minutes to get to the airport. That said, the flight itself is ¥20,100, making it cheaper than the Hachijojima leg. Depending on the season you may find early bird and two-way ticket discounts (see here for details on pricing).

Book flights to Miyakejima through New Central Airservice.

From Miyakejima, get to Mikurashima on a helicopter. As boats are easily affected by weather and sea conditions, you have a better chance of reaching the island if you fly.

Book a helicopter ride from Miyakejima to Mikurashima through Tokyo Ai-land Shuttle.

Getting to Mikurashima from Miyakejima costs ¥5,870, totalling to roughly ¥25,970 for a one-way trip.

While Chōfu Airport isn’t as accessible, the total cost is cheaper than flying via Hachijojima, and the flight time totals to just one hour. The other advantage being that the chance of reaching the island is higher by air than by boat.

*Note
When booking your flights to Miyakejima or Hachijojima, be sure to time it well with the helicopter schedule. You may end up having to stay a night for transfer.

・Check here for Haneda Airport to Hachijojima flight schedule
・Check here for Chōfu Airport to Miyakejima flight schedule
・Check here for Hachijojima/Miyakejima to Mikurajima helicopter schedule

There are no car rental or bike rental services on the island. As bicycles are prohibited you cannot bring one in.
Your only options are to walk or hire a guide to help take you around the island by car. In the case that you require a guide’s help, don’t forget to make reservations in advance!

If you have a chance to ride a boat, you better bring medicine for motion sickness. There are no pharmacies on the island so you really must bring your own.

The following are prohibited activities on Mikurashima.

1. Camping (staying in a tent) is prohibited. Stay at one of the bungalows instead.
2. As there are a limited number of accommodations and the boat operation is unpredictable, day trips are not possible
3. The village is a residential area. Be respectful and do not walk around in a swimsuit or naked from the waist up.
4. Bicycles are prohibited on the island. Even if you bring one in you will not be able to ride it.

At Mikurashima, there are plenty of activities both in the ocean and on the mountain. With the wild birds and stag beetles, the many waterfalls flowing from the mountains directly into the ocean, there’s so much nature on this island.
Come and spend a relaxing vacation surrounded by the beauty of nature.