Sightseeing on Toshima Island
January 1st, Toshima Island’s New Year starts with Jikkuwabi
Jikkuwabi, the New Year’s festival of Toshima Island is held on January 1st. Shrine parishioners and heads of householders gather around Azusawakenomikoto Shrine around 23:00 on New Year's Eve and drink sake which has been sactified. Other worshippers also wait for Jikkuwabi, and as soon as the year turns, the drum of the worship hall is beaten. At the same time, they will call out "Jikkuwa!" and ignite the Jikkuwabi(sacred fire). New Year's begins with "Jikkuwabi song." The traditional ceremony, Yabusame, the art of shooting arrows from horseback, is not currently implemented due to lack of successors in recent years.
January 1st to 3rd, going around the mountain
The first three days of the New Year, there are customs that people on the island go around the mountain. They visit the first, the second, the third shrines in order, and offer rice and sake. The first is Azusawakenomikoto-Hongu Shrine which is about 100 meters (328 feet) before the Minamigayama Garden. Second is Oyama-koyama jinjya Shrine where a short walk from Azusawakenomikoto-Hongu Shrine. The third enshrines the princess of Azusawakeno-mikoto at Shimogami-jinjya Shrine under the Usuigo Picnic Site. These mountain trails trace the traditional way but are difficult to traverse, so these days most people visit them by car.
Mt. Miyatsukayama, the Symbol of Toshima Island
Mt. Miyatsukayama is a cone-like mountain with a beautiful pyramid shape. Trees cover the entire island, most of which are camellia trees. These trees cover 80% of Toshima Island and protect the island against the strong winter winds. The mountains are filled with camellias and other plants, and wild birds live in the mountains. Unlike mountain communities on the main islands of Japan, Toshima Island is free of animals, such as deer, monkeys, and wild boars. This allows visitors the experience of walking in uniquely tranquil mountains.
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Minamigayama Picnic Site
Minamigayama picnic site is located in the south of Toshima Island. It has been selected as one of New 100 Landscapes of Japan, and when it is sunny, there is a grand view of Niijima Island, Shikinejima Island, Kozushima Island, Miyakejima Island, and Mikurashima Island. There is a grass square, an observatory, and a kitchen garden. From autumn to winter, it is known for beautiful, starry skies.
https://www.travelroad.co.jp/izu/spot/oshima/sunsetpalmline（外部サイト）
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Azusawakenomikoto Shrine
This is the largest shrine on Toshima Island. The god of the shrine is worshiped as the guardian of the village. Local people affectionately call this long-familiar shrine Myojin-sama. It is unknown when the shrine was established. However, the main building of the shrine was reportedly constructed in 1760, which makes it the oldest structure on Toshima Island. For centuries the shrine has been the center of worship on the island as the site of the New Year's festival held on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
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Toshima Village Local Data Museum
The people’s livestyle since the Jomon period is on display. From excavated earthenware pieces to present living tools are exhibited in an understandable way here so people can glimpse the history, folk culture and lifestyle of Toshima Island. Among them, the copper mirror that has been designated as cultural property of Tokyo is a must-see exhibit. Also on display are industries such as camellia cultivation, forestry, and fishing. You can see how Toshima Island changed with the times. This museum allows visiters to experience the scent of the soil and the ocean which the harsh climate of a remote island and how its has been handed down to following generations.
http://www.gotokyo.org/jp/kanko/toshimamura/spot/s_234.html（外部サイト）
Camellias
Toshima Island has no rivers or springs, and as a result the local people cannot grow rice. Therefore, during the Edo period (the 17th to the mid-19th centuries), the islanders used camellias to pay their land taxes. Camellia production now supports the livelihood of the local people as the mainstay industry of the island. Starting in the Edo period, the people of Toshima Island have produced camellia oil for more than two centuries. The camellia oil produced on Toshima Island accounts for nearly 60% of all the camellia oil produced in Japan. There are about 200,000 camellia trees on the whole island. Although camellias bloom in winter, the plant bears its oil-filled fruit from early summer to autumn. Because the camellia fruit is harvested after it drops off of the trees, the islanders clear the ground of any undergrowth in autumn.
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A Thriving Fishing Industry for Japanese Spiny Lobsters and Horned Turban Shells
The island's local fishing industry started officially in 1906, with the establishment of the Toshima Village Fishermen's Union. Back then, the main catches included agar weed, horned turban shells, and yellow-striped butterfish. Flying fish and mackerel fishing prospered in the Taisho period (1912-1926). The modern fishery industry on Toshima Island began with the purchase of motor boats for catching Japanese spiny lobsters using a subsidy from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (currently the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) in 1925. The construction of the port progressed through the mid-1990s, which accelerated the advance of modern fisheries. The rough seas around Toshima Island are teeming with shellfish. The Japanese spiny lobster, a shellfish synonymous with extravagance, is also a specialty of this area.
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Swimming with Dolphins and Scuba Diving
The waters around the island are fertile fishing grounds teeming with migratory fish. Luxury fish, such as the greater amberjack and white trevally, are caught from spring to autumn. The sword-tip squid is also caught from winter to spring. The waters around the island are home to about 20 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and visitors can enjoy swimming with them. The dolphins are very curious and are even known to swim right up to people. Toshima Island is also a great spot for scuba diving.
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Hiking to Encounter Moss-Covered Giant Trees
With its distinctively conical shape, Mt. Miyatsukayama has long been a landmark for many seafarers. At a height of 508 meters (1,667 feet), virtually anyone can hike up the mountain with ease. Since hikers are rare on Mt. Miyatsukayama, grass grows on the hiking trails, allowing hikers to see the long history of the area evidenced by the giant, moss-covered trees they will encounter. An observation deck is installed on the north slope below the top of the mountain. Hikers can enjoy views of Oshima Island, the Izu Peninsula, and Mt. Fuji on a clear day.
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The Starry Night Sky - Nature's Planetarium
After sunset, the sky above the Toshima Island transforms into nature's planetarium. On a clear night without moonlight, the Milky Way becomes visible to the naked eye. Even without knowledge of the constellations, you will never tire of gazing at the starry sky. Minamigayama Picnic Site, located on the south end of the island, is a recommended spot for stargazing. This is where Niijima Island and Miyakejima Island become visible in the distance. The faint lights from the other islands resemble a miniature garden and add to the charm unique to remote islands. Visitors will enjoy having the special starry sky of Toshima Island all to themselves.
(C)Toshima Mura Yakuba
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Related links
Toshima Island
- Features of Toshima Island
- History of Toshima Island
- Wildlife of Toshima Island
- Sightseeing on Toshima Island
- Accessing Toshima Island