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Location : On the Pacific Ocean, 120 km south of Tokyo How to get : Ordinary boat and High speed boat are operated from Takeshiba Sanbashi (Takeshiba Pier) in Tokyo. 10 minute walk takes you to the Takeshiba Sanbashi from Hamamatsucho station of Yamanote JR line.
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___Izu Oh Shima is the biggest island of Izu Isles. The area is 91 square kilometer, the circumferential length is 50 km. In the center of the island, there is a volcano "Mihara Yama". Its height is about 700 meter. If you get to the island, it's better to go to the top of volucano at first. Since a bus takes you to 600 m height or so, it's easy to climb the rest of the way to the top of the mountain. And you can walk around the edge of it. This volcano has erupted in 1986. You can see how the eruption was by a movie played in the Volcano Museum at Motomachi area. ___Izu Oh Shima is famous for camellia. It blooms in all around of the island from January to March. At the Camellia Garden located in east side of the island, you can see many kinds of camellia flowers. Oil is made from seeds of camellia, which is good for souvenir.
___I have visited Izu Oh Shima twice. ___First time, that was on Junuary in 1997. I got on the boat from Takeshiba Pier in the night, arrived at Okada Port in the morning. After landing on the island, I at once got on a bus for Moto Machi. Then I started walking towards Mt. Mihara. Though I should have got the bus which directly took me to the Mt. Mihara from Okada Port, But then, I wanted to climb the mountain by myself. ___I don't remember how many hours I walked, I went to edge of the volcano, at that time, walkway which goes around the edge of the volcano was not available. So I could see a part of cliff of inside. ___Then I went down to Ohshima Onsen Hotel. I bathed the hot spring of the hotel. No one was there. I enjoyed the hot spring, especially at outside-bath. I could see Mt.Mihara and the plane of lava from the bath. ___I kept on walking and visited the Camellia Garden and the zoo. I don't know why such big zoo was there. Besides, free charge. At the zoo, a monkey had an apple in his hand, and I took a picture of him. Since I had already walked so long distance on paved road that my right leg started aching at that time. ___I got on a bus to Moto Machi, and saw a movie about the eruption in 1986 at the Volcano Musium. The music of the movie was written by a famous Japanese composer of modern music. But one of the audiences complainted "Music was terribly noisy". ___I stayed at small inn near Habu Port. Next day I took a bath at the outside-hot-spring "Hama No Yu" near Moto Machi. I felt hot water a little bit salty. In the afternoon I left the island by airplane. ___Second time was on March in 2001. Then I visited with three of my friends of university days. We planed to meet at Yokohama Large Pier about 23 midnight, but beforehand, I met one of friends Mr.A , took dinner at chinese restaurant, and then drank at W.J. listening live Jazz music. ___Boat from Takeshiba Pier droped by Yokohama Large Pier, then we got on it. In the moring, the boat arrived at Okada Port. We bought "one day bus ticket" and got on a bus which took us to Ohshima Onsen Hotel. Bathing hot spring in the morning was great refreshment. Then we took breakfast at Hotel, and got on a bus for Mt. Mihara. ___At this time, We could walk around the volcano. Looking down the inside the volcano was thrilling and a little bit scary. After hiking of Mt. Mihara, we went to the zoo and Camelia Park by bus. Since the Camelia flower festival was being held, "Anko-san"(female islander) wearing thier costume were dancing on the stage. Flankly speaking, I had expected. What? But um.....all of Anko-san were eldery. ___On the bus from Camelia Park to MotoMachi other member were sleeping probably because of Night ship, Morning hiking. We went to local food restaurant, but their seat were fully occupied. So we took lunch next restaurant. Fried hAshitabah leaves were good, but "Tokobushi" shell they served were too much. ___After that, in short, we went to the valcano musium, took a bath at Hamanoyu, then went to small inn by bus. We arrived at the inn at 4. That was littele bit early till dinner, Then we took rest in the room respectively. Some member slept in "Futon" mat, other read a comic magagine of inn. I went out, walked down the way to the sea. Looking the beach, I was surprised. The color of sand was not white but black. That black sand was broken lava. It was not good weather, cloudy, but I could see the island "To Shima" like corn beyond the sea. ___Night dinner was not so great. But Master gave us some slice of smoked whale and raw "Awabi" shell. Then I bought liquer made in the island"Shima Zake", took them into our room. We talked and drank till midnight. ___Next day, we left the island by plane. During the stay, we could not see young Anko-san. But anyway, Izu Oh Shima is a good island to visit. It is the most popular island of Seven Izu isle. Its reason is not only nearest from Tokyo, but also there are so many places to enjoy, and facilities and services are well organized. If you live in Tokyo, it would be better to go to the Izu Oh Shima. P.S. an important infomation about Anko-san is in page of ShikineJima
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