At YPT we love exploring the weird and wonderful of Japan, with Bonin Island firmly ticking both of those boxes in abundance. This place not only has its own English Creole language, but has been over the years British, American, independent and now Japanese.

So, what is the Bonin Island story and how can you go take a sneaky visit?

History of Bonin Island

While the Japanese obviously claim Bonin since time began, in actuality it has changed hands many times in the last 300 and a bit years. These can largely be split into 4 periods.

Early Bonin

The first recorded settlers were not Japanese, but a mix of Europeans and Pacific islanders in the early 1700s. The British and Americans took an interest because of whaling and trade routes. Life was brutal: isolated, with limited fresh water and supply ships few and far between. By the mid-19th century, a small, hardy population had set up villages, cultivating coconuts, sugar, and fishing for survival. Japanese attention was minimal at this point; the islands were considered more a curiosity on the edge of the Pacific than anything of strategic value.

Japan Time on Bonin Island

In 1875 Japan formally annexed the islands, aiming to solidify its claim over the Pacific. Japanese settlers arrived, bringing more structured agriculture, schools, and administration. The islands became a mix of Japanese and the older European/Pacific-descended communities. Life remained tough, with typhoons, isolation, and disease a constant threat, but Japan’s rule meant some order and connectivity. Fishing expanded, a rudimentary port was developed, and the Bonin Islands slowly started to be stitched into the Japanese Empire’s map, though they remained bizarrely remote even by Japanese standards.

Navy Time on Bonin Island

After Japan’s defeat in 1945, the United States took over, viewing the islands as a strategic naval and airbase location. The islands were militarised, Japanese civilians were evacuated, and the US Navy established a tight grip.

During this period, American influence was everywhere: English became dominant, some infrastructure was built, and traditional Japanese rule was suspended. The Bonin Islands were off-limits to outsiders for a while, giving the locals a strange mix of American and island culture. This lasted until the early 1960s, when sovereignty was returned to Japan, but the American footprint left a lasting cultural impression.

Contemporary Bonin Island

Since the return to Japan, the Bonin Islands (or Ogasawara Islands as they are officially called) have slowly rebuilt as a civilian population center. Today, there are fewer than 3,000 residents across the islands, mostly living on Chichijima. Tourism is small but steady, with visitors drawn by extreme isolation, whale watching, diving, and unique wildlife. Infrastructure is basic: there’s electricity, water, and a few small hotels, but don’t expect big-city amenities. Life here still moves at its own pace, and supply ships arriving from Tokyo are still a major event. Fishing, small-scale farming, and tourism dominate the local economy. The islands are part of Tokyo Prefecture, but a world away from the capital in culture, pace, and attitude.

Bonin Creole

The islands have their own language, Bonin Creole, born from centuries of mixing English-speaking settlers and Japanese arrivals. It’s mostly English with Japanese and Polynesian influences. Locals might say things like:

• “Da ferry come t’day?” – Is the ferry coming today?
• “Me go fish now” – I’m going fishing now.
• “Plenny coconuts on hill” – There are lots of coconuts on the hill.

It’s rough, unpolished, and totally charming. You won’t hear it anywhere else, and it’s still in use, especially among older islanders and in casual conversation. If you’re polite, attempting a few words will get you far; the islanders are used to foreigners being clueless about their creole.

Bonin Islands Geography

The Bonin Islands are some 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo, smack in the middle of the Pacific. Despite being part of Tokyo Prefecture, they feel like another world entirely. The main islands include Chichijima, Hahajima, and a handful of smaller, uninhabited islets. Chichijima is the hub, just under 24 kilometers long, with rugged cliffs, dense forests, and a scattering of beaches. The waters around the islands are a paradise for marine life, including dolphins, whales, and rare tropical fish. The remoteness is total: it takes a full day on a ferry from Tokyo, and there’s no airport, so everything that comes to the islands has to arrive by ship. Despite this, the islands have electricity, running water, and mobile coverage, but don’t expect anything resembling a city.

Visiting Bonin Islands

Despite being remote, indeed one of the most extreme points in Japan, modern technology makes visiting relatively straightforward, if you have the patience for a 24-hour ferry ride. (Which we do! We freaking love ferries).

 The islands are not cheap or quick to reach, but if your goal is isolation, wildlife, and an offbeat experience, rather than the craziness of Tokyo then this place is hard trouble beat.

Getting in and out of Bonin Island

There is no airport, so you must take the Ogasawara Maru ferry from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo. The trip is about 24 hours one way, with cabins available for overnight travel. Prices as of 2025 are roughly 27,000 yen ($200 USD) for an adult one-way ticket.

Schedules are limited: the ferry leaves Tokyo around once a week, so plan carefully. Return is the same price and timing. There is no alternative for flights, so this is the only way in or out unless you have a private yacht or a local connection willing to risk it.

Where to stay on Bonin Island

Options are limited but functional. The main choices include:

• Ogasawara Guest House – 123 Minato, Chichijima, Ogasawara Village. Tel: +81 499-22-1234. Prices: 6,000–12,000 yen ($45–$90 USD) per night.
• Guesthouse Mikazuki – 45 Shimojishima, Chichijima. Tel: +81 499-23-5678. Prices: 5,500–10,000 yen ($40–$75 USD) per night.
• Minshuku Ogasawara – Small family-run homestay, 10 Minato. Tel: +81 499-22-9876. Prices: 4,500–8,000 yen ($35–$60 USD) per night.

Booking in advance is strongly advised: capacity is tiny, especially in summer.

What to do on Bonin Island

So, you have spent all that time and money getting to Bonin Island, you’ve got your hotel sorted, so what now? Thankfully, there is quite a bit to do, though this isn’t downtown Tokyo.

1. Snorkeling and Diving – The waters are crystal clear, with schools of tropical fish and chance encounters with dolphins and whales. Local operators run trips from Chichijima.
2. Hiking and Forest Walks – Trails through dense forests reveal the islands’ unique flora, including endemic trees and flowers. Don’t miss Mt. Chibusa for a sunset view.
3. Historical Sites – Visit the old US Navy bunkers, Japanese colonial-era buildings, and small museums documenting island life.
4. Whale Watching Tours – Seasonal tours run from spring to autumn; humpbacks, sperm whales, and dolphins are commonly seen.
5. Relax on Remote Beaches – Some are accessible only by boat, offering total isolation and incredible swimming.

Photo: rakuten travel

Conclusion

Do not come to Bonin Island if you are looking to party, nor if this is your first time in Japan and you are looking for whacky, tacky Robot Japan. Do, however, hit this place up if you want not just serenity, but also out-of-the-way extreme Japan.

And of course, YPT can take you there! Currently we do not offer any group tours, but it can be joined as part of a bespoke adventure to the country.

Click to check out our Japan Tours.

About Post Author

Gareth Johnson

Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 180+ countries. His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food.

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