Ogasawara

Ogasawara National Park protects the spectacular Ogasawara Islands, a remote volcanic archipelago located approximately 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo in the western Pacific Ocean. Designated as a national park in 1972 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, the park encompasses both terrestrial and marine environments across the Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands. Often referred to as the Galapagos of the Orient, Ogasawara is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and exceptionally high rates of endemism, with many species found nowhere else on Earth. The subtropical islands have never been connected to any continental landmass, resulting in unique evolutionary processes that have produced distinctive flora and fauna over millions of years of isolation.

The Ogasawara Islands were discovered by the Japanese explorer Ogasawara Sadayori in 1593, though the first permanent settlement occurred in 1830. Japan formally annexed the islands in 1876. During World War II, the islands held strategic military importance, with the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 becoming one of the war bloodiest engagements. After the war, the islands came under U.S. military administration, with original inhabitants unable to return until the islands reversion to Japan in 1968. Recognizing the islands unique natural heritage, the Japanese government designated Ogasawara as a national park on October 16, 1972. In June 2011, the Ogasawara Islands were inscribed as a Natural World Heritage Site.

Visiting Ogasawara National Park requires significant time commitment and advance planning due to its extreme remoteness. The only access is via the Ogasawara Maru ferry, which departs from Tokyo Takeshiba Terminal approximately once every 3-6 days depending on season, with the one-way journey taking 24 hours. The ferry schedule effectively requires a minimum six-day trip. Accommodation on the main inhabited island of Chichijima ranges from guesthouses to small hotels, with limited options requiring advance reservations. On the islands, visitors can explore hiking trails through subtropical forests, enjoy pristine beaches, and participate in world-class whale watching and dolphin swimming tours operated by licensed guides.

Conservation in Ogasawara National Park focuses intensively on protecting endemic species threatened by invasive species introduced during two centuries of human inhabitation. The park has implemented one of Asia most comprehensive invasive species eradication programs, with successful elimination of feral goats and ongoing efforts to control invasive green anoles, rats, and predatory flatworms. Endemic land snail conservation has become a particular priority, with captive breeding programs for species driven to the brink of extinction. The critically endangered Bonin flying fox receives protection through habitat preservation and monitoring programs. Strict biosecurity protocols at the ferry terminal aim to prevent new invasive species introductions.