- ▶️ What You’ll Learn in This Article
- ✅ Quick Overview: How to Get There
- ✈️ Step-by-Step Access from Narita Airport
- ✈️ Step-by-Step Access from Haneda Airport
- 🛳️ Boarding the Ferry: The Ogasawara Maru
- 🗓️ Sample Itinerary: 6-Day Minimum Trip
- 🌿 Reflective Insights: Why This Trip Is So Unique
- 🗓️ Seasonal Guide: When Should You Go?
- 📌 Final Tips for Travelers
▶️ What You’ll Learn in This Article
This is not your average Tokyo side trip. The Ogasawara Islands (also called the Bonin Islands), located over 1,000 km from mainland Japan, are a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site known for their endemic wildlife, untouched coral reefs, and historical isolation.
And yet—there’s no airport. No bridge. No shortcut.
This article will help you get from Narita or Haneda Airport to Chichijima, the gateway island, and plan your journey with:
- ✅ Clear, step-by-step access routes from both airports
- 🧭 Ferry booking instructions
- 🛏️ Tips on lodging, seasons, and what to pack
- 🧠 Insights from experienced travelers
- 🚫 Common mistakes to avoid
✅ Quick Overview: How to Get There
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Land at Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) Airport |
| 2 | Get to Takeshiba Pier in central Tokyo (via train or monorail) |
| 3 | Board the Ogasawara Maru ferry to Chichijima (Father Island) |
| 4 | Travel by sea for ~24 hours |
| 5 | Arrive at Futami Port – Chichijima’s main entry point |
✈️ Step-by-Step Access from Narita Airport
🚆 Option A: Train (Fastest)
- Take the Narita Express (N’EX) to Tokyo Station (~1 hour)
- Transfer to Yamanote Line → ride to Hamamatsucho Station (~15 mins)
- Walk 8–10 minutes to Takeshiba Pier Ferry Terminal
🕒 Total travel time: ~1.5–2 hours
💰 Cost: ~¥3,500–¥4,000
🚌 Option B: Airport Limousine Bus (Fewer Transfers)
- Take a bus from Narita → Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit (~90–120 mins)
- Taxi or walk to Takeshiba Pier (1.5 km)
🕒 Slightly slower but better for heavy luggage
✈️ Step-by-Step Access from Haneda Airport
🚝 Option A: Tokyo Monorail (Recommended)
- From Haneda → take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (~20 mins)
- Walk directly to Takeshiba Pier
🕒 Total: ~30–40 minutes
💰 Cost: ~¥700–¥1,000
🚀 Haneda is ideal if you’re trying to board the ferry the same day you land.
🛳️ Boarding the Ferry: The Ogasawara Maru
Operated by:
- Ogasawara Kaiun Co., Ltd.
- Website: https://www.ogasawarakaiun.co.jp/english/service/
Ferry Details:
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Ogasawara Maru |
| Departure port | Takeshiba Pier, Tokyo |
| Duration | ~24 hours (one-way) |
| Schedule | ~1 trip/week (increased to 2–3/week in summer) |
| Destination | Futami Port, Chichijima |
| Booking required? | ✅ Yes, usually opens 2 months ahead |
| Website (JP) | ogasawarakaiun.co.jp |
Cabin Options:
| Class | Description | Approx. Price (one-way) |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd class | Shared floor sleeping mats | ~¥24,000 |
| Berth | Shared bunk beds with curtain dividers | ~¥30,000–¥35,000 |
| Private | Twin rooms or suites (book early) | ¥50,000–¥90,000 |
🗓️ Sample Itinerary: 6-Day Minimum Trip
Because the ferry takes 24 hours each way and usually sails once per week, here’s what a realistic plan looks like:
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fly into Haneda or Narita → Overnight in Tokyo |
| 2 | Board ferry at Takeshiba (AM) → Sail overnight |
| 3 | Arrive at Chichijima (Futami Port) |
| 4–5 | Explore: beaches, hikes, boat tours, diving |
| 6 | Ferry back to Tokyo (arrive next day) |
🛑 This trip is NOT suitable for 2–3 day Japan visitors. It’s a destination in itself.
🌿 Reflective Insights: Why This Trip Is So Unique
1. 🧭 “This Isn’t a Side Trip. It’s a Journey.”
Ogasawara isn’t Kyoto, Okinawa, or Nikko.
There are no fast trains, no domestic flights, no shinkansen stops.
And that’s exactly why it’s magical.
The ferry ride itself becomes a rite of passage—cutting you off from the mainland, Wi-Fi, and crowds.
One traveler wrote:
“I met whales, not tourists. I lost cell signal and found peace.”
— Activity Japan review
2. 🌊 The Ferry Is Not a Nuisance—It’s a Filter
Yes, it’s 24 hours on a boat. But that’s part of the story.
There’s no airport because the islands are too ecologically sensitive to handle air traffic.
The long journey preserves the ecosystem and keeps mass tourism away.
You’ll share the ship with locals returning home, divers, marine biologists, and a few adventurous tourists.
💡 Pro Tip: Bring a book, snacks, and motion sickness medicine.
3. 🏖️ What to Expect on the Island
- No convenience stores (only small local shops)
- No taxis on demand — walking, bikes, and rentals only
- Limited accommodations — book guesthouses or minpaku early
- Incredible activities:
- Whale watching (winter & spring)
- Snorkeling & diving (year-round)
- Star gazing (some of the clearest skies in Japan)
- WWII relics & native forests (UNESCO-listed)
🛏️ Accommodation options range from hostels to family-run guesthouses.
You won’t find chain hotels here—and that’s the point.
🗓️ Seasonal Guide: When Should You Go?
| Season | Highlights | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Humpback whales, mild weather | Popular = crowded ferries |
| Summer | Coral diving, festivals, turtles | High humidity, typhoons possible |
| Autumn | Best sea conditions, quieter atmosphere | Ferry schedule may be limited |
| Winter | Stargazing, sperm whale watching | Cooler temps, fewer tours offered |
🌪️ Ferry suspensions can occur due to typhoons from June–October. Always check 1–2 days before departure.
📌 Final Tips for Travelers
- 🛬 Fly into Haneda if possible—it’s faster and easier to reach the ferry terminal
- 🕓 Arrive in Tokyo 1 full day before ferry departure
- 📱 Download offline maps & ferry ticket PDFs
- 🧴 Bring sunscreen, waterproof bags, and Dramamine
- 📅 Check the ferry schedule here:
Ogasawara Kaiun Ferry Schedule (English)
