Photo of the Day (Aogashima Edition)

Last week I had the honor of teaching elementary and jr. high school in the smallest town in all of Japan: Aogashima. The population hovers around 170 and on the "stuff to do" scale, it sits somewhere just above 1. However, I had a great week. Why? Because the students were excited, the teachers were considerate, and everyone I met was kind and helpful. My minshuku (small, bed-and-breakfast hotel) kept me fed and happy. I wanted to share some of the photos I took during my week there. I'll also provide more travel info at the bottom of the post, in case you ever want a dose of small town life.

Here is a shot of Aogashima's double volcano. The island itself is one volcano, and this little one sits inside the caldera of it.

The volcano also has steam vents around one side of it. The steam is scalding hot, and is used to power the public sauna. It can also be used to cook food. Here I am checking out the pots used to cook with.

The entire population of Aogashima lives on one small part of the island near the school. The island's only harbor sits far away. Cameras record waves and weather, which then broadcast the images to everyone on the island. That way, you don't have to make the trip to the ferry if it's going to be canceled anyway. When the weather is really bad, the tiny ferry runs the risk of being slammed against the rocky cliffs. How do you fix that? Well, how about hooking it to a crane and lifting it up in the air till the waves die down.

Some of my elementary students gave me goodbye gifts. Since souvenir shops are lacking, most of my gifts were handmade island favorites: ivy bracelets, berry bouquets, and of course, ashitaba.

As my helicopter took off for Hachijo, a group of people gathered at the heliport to wave goodbye.

And here is the last view I had of Aogashima town before flying off.

How to Get There
First, you need to get to Hachijo-jima. You can take a flight from Haneda in Tokyo on ANA or a ferry from Takeshiba port. Once in Hachijo, you have two options. The first is the helicopter (recommended). Tickets can be purchased at the TAL counter in the Hachijo airport. The flight takes about 20 minutes, and leaves Hachijo once a day at 9:20 (be sure to check in half an hour before to keep your seat). Tickets are ¥11,500 each way. The helicopter seats nine. A cheaper option is to take the ferry. Tickets can be purchased from the ferry office at Sokodo Port in Hachijo. The ferry takes about 2.5 hours, and tickets are approximately ¥2,500 each way. The ferry is less reliable than the helicopter, though, since waves between Hachijo and Aogashima can be rough.
Where to Stay
I recommend the minshuku Aji Sai, but I can't find the direct phone number. There are a few other minshukus on the island, and all provide meals with your stay. There are no restaurants on Aogashima. There is also a free campground on the volcano, but be sure to bring your own food if you stay there. Call the village office for more information on where to stay: 04996-9-0111
What to Do
Definitely plan a day to hike around the volcanoes. Be sure to check out the trails that lead up from Aogashima town (where all the buildings are), because the trails there are well-marked and easy to climb. Also, sit for a spell in the volcano-powered sauna. Near the sauna, check out the salt shop where Aogashima's famous salt is manufactured. Since the town sits on steep cliffs, getting down to the ocean to swim isn't all that easy. You can splash around near the harbor, though. Keep your eye out for dolphins.
What to Buy
Aogashima is famous for two things: salt and shochu. The salt is made by slowly drying ocean water over the volcanic vents. And I can attest that it is delicious. The shochu (or aochu) is different from any other Japanese shochu I've tasted. It's hard to describe the taste, but give it a try.