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▶Climate
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It belongs to the Izu Islands, which are part of Tokyo, and is located in the ocean about 160 km south of Tokyo and about 40 km southeast of Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Tourism, agriculture and fishing are thriving industries, and the area is especially popular with beachgoers and surfers.
Although it is not far from Tokyo, it is rich in nature and you can enjoy beautiful sunsets and starry skies.
Many marine creatures gather here on the Kuroshio Current, so you can enjoy snorkeling and fishing. You might even encounter sea turtles at the pier!
The geology is rich in rhyolite, and the long white sandy beaches are impressive.
Kusaya, a specialty of the Izu Islands known for its unique aroma, is the island's soul food with a 300-year history that is said to have been born from the climate and soil of Niijima.
Koga stone, which is only found on Niijima Island in Japan, has been valued as a building material due to its light weight, fire resistance, and sound absorbing properties.
Niijima glass, made by refining kogaite, is prized for its beautiful olive color and luster, and the International Glass Art Festival is held on Niijima every year.
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▶History and Culture
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It is believed that people have lived here since the Jomon period, and it has always developed in harmony with nature.
The dialects and local cuisine that have been passed down through the generations are proof of this.
Niijima also has a history of building friendly relations with exiles (criminals sentenced to remote islands).
Exiles may have a strong image of being villains, but they are said to have been important to the island, bringing new cultures and lifestyles to the island.
From the 40s onwards, it strengthened its ties with the city as a leisure island, and bustled as one of the centers of the remote island boom.
The islanders' lives, which continue in the midst of the abundant nature that has remained unchanged since ancient times, have been gaining attention in recent years as a lifestyle that is relaxing for both body and mind.
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▶Local communities
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The village is home to a thriving community of local residents who cooperate to hold various sports events, cultural and hobby classes, etc. These activities deepen the bonds between the villagers and contribute to the development of rich people and the island.
In addition to the village sports association and cultural association, there are senior citizens' clubs and women's associations organised in each district, which hold a variety of courses and lectures.
The whole village gets excited during triathlon and marathon competitions, which attract many athletes from outside the island.
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▶Sightseeing & Activities
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It is a popular island for marine activities and leisure, with many tourists coming back again and again.
With white sandy beaches, blue ocean, and beautiful nature, you can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, surfing, fishing, trekking, camping, and more.
The unique island scenery is one of its attractions, and the blue ocean that appears as you round a bend, the white stone walled paths, and the coastline lined with Moai statues are all sights that can only be seen here.
The Moyai statues, which take their name from the word "moyai," meaning "cooperation and mutual help," are carved from the island's koga stone and can be seen all over the island.
The Moai statue in front of Shibuya Station was also a gift from Niijima.
Both Niijima and Shikinejima are famous for their hot springs, where you can refresh yourself in a variety of different types of hot springs.
If you get tired after playing all day, we recommend taking a relaxing soak in the hot springs while watching the stars and moon, preparing for the next day.
▶Honmura Maehama Beach｜Niijima
https://niijima-info.jp/enjoy/beach/honsonmaehama/
This beach is located just off Niijima Kurone Maehama Port, and the gentle waves make it safe for small children to play.
It is also loved by the islanders as a famous spot for watching the sunset.
▶Habushiura Campsite
https://niijima-info.jp/member/member_stay/2829/
This campsite is a 3-minute walk from Habushiura Beach on Niijima Island, and is away from the island's central Honmura district, so on clear nights you can enjoy a spectacular starry sky.
*For details on how to use the service, please check the Niijima Village Tourist Information Center website.
▶Tomari Beach | Shikinejima
https://shikinejima.tokyo/play/beach/tomari_beach/
This beach is a 5-minute walk from Nobushi Port, and features a beautiful cove with the clearest water on the island. It is one of the 88 best swimming beaches in Japan.
The beach is shallow and the waves are calm, so even small children can enjoy it.
▶Kamibiki Observatory｜Shikinejima
https://shikinejima.tokyo/play/observatory/
It is a scenic spot from which you can see not only Niijima across the shore, but also neighboring islands and even Mount Fuji in the distance on a clear day, and has been selected as one of the New 100 Views of Tokyo.
This is the place where Ino Tadataka's surveying team visited when creating the "Complete Map of the Japanese Coastline," and a triangulation point remains at the measurement site to this day.
▶Jinata Onsen｜Shikinejima
https://shikinejima.tokyo/hotspring/jinata/
This underwater hot spring is characterized by its dynamic cliffs that look as if they were split with a hatchet.
The hot spring water is hot at 80 degrees, so you can wait until it mixes with the seawater and reaches the right temperature before entering.
It is said to be effective against neuralgia and rheumatism, and is known as the "internal medicine bath."
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▶Information on immigration, child rearing and living
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Although there are no large commercial or entertainment facilities in Niijima village, there are a number of small and medium-sized supermarkets and privately owned shops, so you will have no trouble purchasing food and other items needed for daily life.
Although it depends on the sea conditions, you can easily shop online or use delivery services, so once you get used to it, it may not feel too inconvenient.
▶Immigration and settlement promotion project
The village has set up a portal site regarding migration and settlement.
We accept consultations regarding relocation and settlement, such as information related to the vacant house bank, job information, and the use of permanent residence trial housing, and we also conduct online interviews as appropriate.
We also feature interviews with immigrants, so please take a look.
Niijima Village Immigration and Settlement Portal Site "Flowlife"
https://flowlife.tokyo
▶Permanent Residence Experience Housing We are running a program where we rent out a detached house close to the sea in the Honmura area of Niijima to people who are seriously considering moving to Niijima Village for a minimum of six nights and seven days, allowing them to experience island life first-hand.
For details on how to apply, please visit the Niijima Village immigration and settlement portal site "Flowlife" and contact us.
https://flowlife.tokyo/trial_stay/
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▶Childcare and daily life
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Niijima has one village nursery school, one village primary school, one village junior high school, and one metropolitan high school, while Shikinejima has one village nursery school, one village primary school, and one village junior high school.
The village has various systems in place for pregnant women and newborns, such as subsidies for transportation costs for prenatal checkups, prenatal visits, and parent classes, and also provides comprehensive support to families with children, including child allowances and full subsidies for medical expenses for children under the age of 18.
Although the number of students is not particularly large, the school has a well-developed system for providing guidance to each individual student.
▶ Subsidy for health check-ups for pregnant women returning home to their hometown
Subsidies are provided for medical checkups at midwifery clinics outside of Tokyo or at designated medical institutions.
For more information, please contact the Niijima Village Health Center.
▶Transportation subsidy for off-island medical examinations
We will subsidize transportation and accommodation costs when visiting medical institutions outside the island.
For more information, please contact the Welfare and Nursing Care Section of the Civil Affairs Division of Niijima Village Office.
▶ Medical Expense Subsidy Program for High School Students
This is a medical assistance system for students enrolled in high schools and vocational schools.
For details, please contact the Welfare and Nursing Care Section of the Civil Affairs Division of Niijima Village Office.
▶Support for agricultural promotion support projects
The village provides subsidies for the costs of producing cash crops to farmers who have been certified by the village.
For more information, please contact the Agriculture and Forestry Section of the Industry and Tourism Division at Niijima Village Office.
▶ Fisheries Successor Development Project
We will recruit new workers from both inside and outside the island, and provide rent subsidies for the training period from fishing training to becoming independent.
For more information, please contact the Fisheries Section of the Industry and Tourism Division at Niijima Village Office.
▶ Subsidy for settlement measures
We provide subsidies to promote the utilization of properties registered in the vacant house bank.
We accept applications at any time for three types of work: renovation, removal, and felling.
Conditions vary depending on the type, so for details please contact the Planning and Coordination Office of the Planning and Finance Division of Niijima Village Office.
▶Support for regional strength improvement projects
Subsidies are provided to village groups and other organizations for projects that contribute to the development and revitalization of the local area.
For more information, please contact the Planning and Coordination Office of the Planning and Finance Division of the Niijima Village Office.
