The Ogasawara Islands - - Tokyo's Adventure Islands

The Ogasawara Islands - - Tokyo's Adventure Islands

• 1.
  Tokyo's Adventure IslandsBeckon... The Ogasawara Islands
• 2.
  Presented by SteveGillick, President, Talking Travel Editor, Travel2Japan And Mitsuru Sasaki, Associate Editor, Travel2Japan www.talkingtravel.ca media@talkingtravel.ca Steve Mitsuru
• 3.
  With great thanksto the assistance of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Convention and Visitors Bureau
• 4.
  1000 km Southof Tokyo 25.5 hour Ferry each way 2 hours between islands 2400 friendly People The Islands of Chichijima & Hahajima UNESCO World Natural Heritage Designation-2011
• 5.
  Takeshiba Pier, gettingready to check-in for the Ferry ride. The terminal has lockers, restaurants, and shops.
• 6.
  Preparing the OgasawaraMaru for the 25.5 hour journey to Chichijima on Nov 12, 2013
• 7.
  Our 1st ClassRoom for 4 people--we shared with two friendly business people.
• 8.
  Tour around theFerry: The information desk and gift shop on the 3rd Level
• 9.
  The Cafeteria foodwas freshly prepared and very tasty.
• 10.
  The Nature Guide provided informationon some of the islands and the wildlife -in the sky, in the ocean and on land.
• 11.
  Reading, conversation, sleeping,eating, photography and watching the ocean--25.5 hours go by fairly quickly
• 12.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text At 11:30 am on Nov 13--exactly 25 1/2 hours after departing from Tokyo, we arrived in Chichijima
• 13.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text The Seafront Hotel--on main street--about an 8 minute walk from the harbour.
• 14.
  Gyosan--literally 'fish sandals"are not only comfortable but also 'grip' the surface on which you are walking. Roughly $8.00 a pair. Everyone wears them!
• 15.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text We met our guide Katsuya (Katchan) and we set off for a 3 hour tour of the Island
• 16.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Views of the town and the harbour. You can see the Ferry in the top left.
• 17.
  Octopus trees rootsand their bright orange fruit
• 18.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Second World War buildings are hidden by the forest
• 19.
  Crab Crossing signs,goat crossing signs and red pigeon crossing signs can be seen on the roadways.
• 20.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Sandy beaches for seclusion, swimming and snorkeling
• 21.
  The Heart RockCafe is named after the famous red rock formation: Heart Rock
• 22.
  Dinner at Marujo:an excellent traditional seafood izakaya
• 23.
  Fresh assorted sashimi TraditionalOgasawara specialty: Shimazushi- Sawara with soy sauce and hot mustard Another Ogasawara specialty is Kame Sashimi: Raw turtle served chilled with ginger, scallions and soy sauce
• 24.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text The Pink Dolphin arrives for our day trip of swimming, snorkeling and photography around the Island
• 25.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Small rocky island outcroppings add to the amazing scenery around the island
• 26.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text The wild curious bottlenose dolphins actually swim with you
• 27.
  Heart Rock. Asthe sun starts to set, the rock becomes a giant red heart
• 28.
  Minamijima Beach--one ofthe natural attractions that contributed to the UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2011
• 29.
  Albatross and othercurious sea birds do a fly-by as you cruise around Chichijima
• 30.
  The next day,after a 2hour and 10 minute Ferry ride, we arrive in Hahajima and start to explore the trails
• 31.
  On the windyascent to Mt.Kofuji, our guide, expert naturalist Tamotsu Hayakawa, demonstrated some bird calls to attract the rare Hahajima Meguro
• 32.
  The bird callsworked! One of the 14,000 Hahajima Meguros comes by to check us out!
• 33.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Starting the walk to Mt. Kofuji and Minamizaki Beach
• 34.
  Fan trees andtropical vegetation vie for the sunlight as we follow the marked trail to Mt. Kofuji
• 35.
  A not-so-secret cave,hidden on a hillside...we waited for the school group to exit and then we explored it.
• 36.
  One of thecave chambers revealed a WWII gun-- in the past 70 years a tree sprouted in the firing path
• 37.
  Another cave lookoutreveals the beautiful crescent shape of Minamizaki Beach
• 38.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Wandering back through the forest at the end of our hike
• 39.
  Sunset in HahajimaHarbour...Red Sky at Night
• 40.
  Our evening inHahajima was spent at the Nanpu Hotel--quite comfortable
• 41.
  Double-click to entertitle Double-click to enter text Heading back to Tokyo--that's Kiyora Hashimoto from Ogasawara Tourism waving goodbye to us
• 42.
  Taiko Drumming tosend us off to Tokyo in style--and wish us a safe trip (and lasting memories)
• 43.
  A flotilla ofboats follow the Ogasawara Maru to the harbour entrance, as a final 'see you back here soon' gesture
• 44.
  Steve Gillick inShark Bay, Chichijima--no sharks but we did see two goats on the surrounding hills
• 45.
  A big THANKYOU to the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• 46.
  Music from theChichijima based artist Okei http://blueocean-islands@jimdo.com https://www.facebook.com/ogasawaraokei
• 47.
  steve@talkingtravel.ca; www.talkingtravel.ca All photosare protected by copyright and may not be downloaded or reproduced in any way, shape or form without the express written permission of Steve Gillick Steve Gillick, President of Talking Travel, presents Keynotes, webinars and seminars on Japan and 70+ other countries. As a destination specialist and a travel addict, Steve's presentations and writings reflect energy, enthusiasm and homour.