Tokyo Metropolis is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and has served as the Japanese capital since 1869. Unlike the urban jungle image Tokyo is actually full of nature. It forms part of the Kanto region on the southeastern side of Japan's main island, Honshu, and includes the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands. Especially the Islands chains is not easy to access and the inhabitants are small in numbers.
The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands and is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. The islands in order from closest to Tokyo are Izu Oshima, Toshima, Niijima, Shikinejima, Kozushima, Miyakejima, Mikurajima, Hachijojima, and Aogashima. This Island is further connected to the Ogasawara Island chain, which is called the Galapagos of Asia.
Diving in Tokyo means diving in these Islands. The Islands are directly in the path of the warm Black currents path bringing in many tropical marine life from the south, and large school of fishes. At Oshima Island, you may encounter large school of Hammerhead sharks. The number of endemic species of animal life you see here in these Islands are also a treat.
Why not enjoy the modern Tokyo and then hop on a ferry or even fly down (you can only fly down to Hachioji jima Island) south to enjoy the untouched nature on your visit to Japan?
Dynamic underwater landscape formaed by the underwater valcano
Izu Oshima is located at 120km south of Tokyo. You can take the 2hour fast ferry or fly 40min to this Island. As the Black current from the south hit's the Island directly, the visibility is good all year round.
Diving in Izu Oshima is 100% conducted in beach-entry style and the most famous beach spot would be, "Akinohama".
You can giant stride into the ocean and use a ladder to exit. The point offeres shallow water areas and also you can follow the reef to the deep wates as well.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.732019,139.396591
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of squid
-Variety of Sea Horse
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Variety of Frogfish
-Japanese Angelfish(Centropyge interrupta)
-Japanese Bullhead Shark(Heterodontus japonicus )
Summer months:
-School of Scalloped hammerhead(Sphyrna lewini) during the very early morning dive.
If your very lucky:
-Pelagic thresher(Alopias pelagicus)
Winter months:
-Variety of deep water creatures
Japanese area endemic species
Located 180km south of Tokyo, this Island was formed by an underwater volcano. Recent eruption with the Island residence evacuation off the Island occurred on 2000, just about 20years ago. Since then, the Island has recovered into a popular tourism site.
Due to it's formation, the underwater terrains are in one word "Dynamic". As the water temperature rising over to about 27-30C from the Summer to the Autumn seasons, Miyakejima has become a very popular diving location in Japan. You an enjoy Dolphin swimming on Mikurajima Island which is about an hour boat ride away.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=33.118431,139.78609
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of Sea Horse
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Variety of Frogfish
-Wrought-iron butterflyfish(Chaetodon daedalma)
-Japanese pygmy angelfish (Centropyge interrupta)
-Striped boarfish(Evistias acutirostris)
Tropical Paradise off the coast of Tokyo
Located 290km south from Tokyo, Hachijyojima Island can be described as a tropical Tokyo right in the path of the Black current(Warm current). It is only a 50min airplane ride from Haneda airport in Tokyo.
There are many diving points all around this 60km radius Island, all offering great visibility all year round. Due to it's isolated location in the middle of the Pacific, this Island is popular among the Japanese divers for it's dynamic underwater terrain and the diversity of marine life. The beautiful endemic Wrought-iron butterflyfish(Chaetodon daedalma) and Red tail trigger fish (Xanthichthys mento)are among the most favorites.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=33.103,139.8035
All year round:
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of Shrimps and Crabs
-Variety of Macro marine life
-Wrought-iron butterflyfish(Chaetodon daedalma)
:In Schools Spring and Autumn
-Red tail trigger fish (Xanthichthys mento)
-Banded boarhead(Evistias acutirostris)
During the Autumn season:
-School of Greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili)
-School of Rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata)
-School of Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor)
During the Winter season:
-Harlequin shrimp(Hymenocera picta)
All photographs provided by Shuzo Koda
World natural heritage ocean in Tokyo
Although Ogasawara is Tokyo, it is 1,000km to the south from the center of the city. It is called the Galapagos of Asia. It is famous for the different types of whales and dolphins you may encounter in these waters. If your lucky, you may have a chance to dive in with them.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=27.100698,142.204284
All year round:
-Variety of macro creatures
-Variety of nudibranch
-Variety of shrimps & crabs
-Sand sharks(Odontaspididae)
During Winter to Spring seasons:
-Humpback whale(Megaptera novaeangliae)
During Spring とSummer seasons:
-Giant school of Dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor) -
During the Summer season:
-Giant school of Yellow and blueback fusilie(Caesio teres)
-Giant school of Bartail fusilier(Pterocaecio tile)
During the Autumn season:
-School of Giant trevally(Caranx ignobilis)
-School of Bluefin Trevally(Caranx melampygus)
During Summer to Autumn seasons:
-Sperm whale(Physeter macrocephalus)
Only a 3hour Jet ferry ride away from Tokyo, it is a 12km Island full of nature. Surrounded by saw tooth shores, it is a popular beach Island for local Japanese. Underwater, there is a famous underwater hot spring bent. You can sometimes see sea turtles visiting this unique underwater Onsen.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.324725,139.218476
4hours Jet ferry away, Kozujima Island is located in the middle of the Izu 7 Islands. Right on the path of the Black current, the ocean is very tropical with rain through out the year making this Island filled with nature, over and underwater.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.22259,139.153942
