I Survived 48 Hours on Tokyo's HIDDEN Desert Island

@Abroad in Japan

I Survived 48 Hours on Tokyo's HIDDEN Desert Island | Feat. @CDawgVA

Abroad in Japanyoutubethe post

Explore Oshima, Tokyo's largest desert island, just a 30-minute flight away. Discover its unique culture, volcanic landscapes, local food, and hidden gems, from black sand deserts to abandoned schools and lively festivals.

1 plan · 8 places · 6 experiences

Plan · 5 places · Oshima, Japan

48 Hours on Oshima Island

“We survived 48 hours on Tokyo's hidden desert island, Oshima, experiencing everything from local life and volcanic deserts to stinky fish and lively festivals.”

Experience · 1 place
Touring an English Teacher's Apartment
We visited Daniel, an Australian English teacher living on Oshima, to see what island life is like. His apartment, despite a 'horrendous' exterior, was surprisingly pleasant and homey inside, with a traditional floor-seating area. It costs only 8,400 Yen a month thanks to a teacher's subsidy, making it 'pretty much free'. Be warned, though, the aircon might be broken, and you might encounter huntsman spiders, which are apparently common in Japan! The internet, however, is incredibly fast, almost a gigabyte.
- Fast internet — Daniel's apartment on Oshima has incredibly fast internet, almost a gigabyte, which is a huge plus for island living, especially for streaming.
1
Oshima Island
Island
4.2
Creator's voice
Tokyo's largest desert island, a subtropical volcanic island part of the Izu island chain. It's just a 30-minute flight from Tokyo, offering a completely different vibe with its unique identity, culture, and way of life.
Ōshima Island, Oshima, Tokyo, Japan
K-car rental — We rented a K-car, a small, boxy, fuel-efficient, and affordable car that's very common in Japan. It's not fast and feels a bit like a go-kart, but it's nimble and perfect for navigating the island's precarious roads.
Experience · 1 place
ATV Ride through Ura Sabaku Desert
We rode buggies up the mountainside to Ura Sabaku, the black volcanic desert. It's not every day you drive across a desert on an ATV, especially a volcanic one! My buggy was slow, only doing 12 km/h, possibly due to my weight or a broken engine, which was a bit embarrassing compared to the others. The landscape is truly unique, feeling like another planet.
2
Ura Sabaku Desert
National reserve · Oshima
4.6 (232)Closed
Creator's voice
Japan's largest black volcanic desert, a striking, otherworldly Martian landscape located on Oshima Island. It's famous for being a filming location, including for Godzilla movies. The volcano, Mount Mihara, last erupted in 1990, with a major eruption in 1986 that forced the evacuation of the island's 12,000 inhabitants.
Urasabaku Desert, Genya Senzu, 大島町 Oshima, Tokyo 100-0103, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Snorkeling in Oshima's Clear Waters
We decided to go snorkeling in the stunning waters of Oshima. Despite recent shark sightings (three sharks spotted two days ago!), the water was beautiful and inviting. I haven't jumped off anything into water in a long time, especially after perforating my eardrum last year, so I was a bit cautious, but it was a refreshing experience.
1
Oshima Island
Island
4.2
Creator's voice
Tokyo's largest desert island, a subtropical volcanic island part of the Izu island chain. It's just a 30-minute flight from Tokyo, offering a completely different vibe with its unique identity, culture, and way of life.
Ōshima Island, Oshima, Tokyo, Japan
K-car rental — We rented a K-car, a small, boxy, fuel-efficient, and affordable car that's very common in Japan. It's not fast and feels a bit like a go-kart, but it's nimble and perfect for navigating the island's precarious roads.
Experience · 1 place
Exploring an Abandoned Preschool
We explored an abandoned preschool, which felt like going through a jungle to get to. It was a genuinely unpleasant experience due to the sheer number of insects, the fear of bats, and giant huntsman spiders everywhere. I was so terrified I purposely only looked a foot in front of me to avoid seeing more creatures. It's definitely a creepy and unsettling place.
- Huntsman spiders — The abandoned preschool is crawling with giant huntsman spiders. While they are safe and not poisonous, they are huge and terrifying, making the experience quite unpleasant.
3
Abandoned Preschool
abandoned-building · Oshima
Ōshima is a town located in Ōshima Subprefecture, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. As of 1 October 2020, the town had an estimated population of 7,102, and a population density of 78.3 persons per km². Its total area is 90.76 square kilometres.
Oshima, Tokyo, Japan
Experience · 1 place
Dining at Kilikili Restaurant
We found Kilikili Restaurant, a hidden gem deep in the forest. It's a charming gingerbread-style wooden house run by an 82-year-old lady who makes her own pottery. You need to call ahead to reserve so she can prepare everything. The curry was amazing, and the atmosphere was lovely, a great escape from the heat. She even carved Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula onto the wall!
4
Kilikili Restaurant
Japanese curry restaurant · Oshima
4.5Open · until 5 PM
Curry House Kiri-Kiri, 417-9 Motomachi, Oshima, Tokyo 100-0101, Japan
Carved Mount Fuji wall art — The owner of Kilikili Restaurant, Kanagawa-san, has carved Mount Fuji and the entire Izu Peninsula onto the wall of her restaurant, offering a beautiful view even when the real Fuji is obscured by summer trees.
Experience · 1 place
Joining Oshima's Biggest Festival
We attended Oshima's biggest festival, the first Japanese festival I'd been to in years. The atmosphere was incredible, with Taiko drums, paper lanterns, and colorful decorations. There was a strong sense of unity and cultural pride as locals sang and danced. We even got swept up in the moment, tried some games, and joined in the festive dancing, which was a 'horrific sight' but a blast!
5
Oshima Festival Grounds
Park · Oshima
4.2 (620)Open · until 5 PM
Tokyo Municipal Oshima Park, Fukuju-２-2 Senzu, Oshima, Tokyo 100-0103, Japan

Also in this video

6
Oshima Airport
Airport · Oshima
4.0 (119)
Tokyo Oshima Camellia Airport, Kitanoyama-270 Motomachi, Oshima, Tokyo 100-0101, Japan
7
Mantate Restaurant
Japanese restaurant · Oshima
4.4 (184)Closed · opens 5:30 PM
Shiki-no-Aji Mantate, 631-1 Motomachi, Oshima, Tokyo 100-0101, Japan
- Pork Shogayaki — Connor ordered the pork shogayaki, a delicious Japanese dish that's highly recommended if you visit Japan. It's listed as 'dangerous' on the menu, but it's a favorite.
- Oshima Kusaya · ¥600 — The infamous Oshima kusaya, a stinky fermented fish that smells like cat food left in the sun for three days. The smell is a zero out of ten, but the flavor is surprisingly not bad, like smoked fish, a six out of ten. It definitely requires an alcoholic drink to wash it down.
8
Senzu Kiridoshi
Tourist attraction · Oshima
4.1 (384)Closed
Senzu Kiridoshi, Senzu, Oshima, Tokyo 100-0103, Japan

6 extraction issues

collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":1,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_0"}
collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":2,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_1"}
collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":3,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_2"}
collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":4,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_3"}
collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":5,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_4"}
collection "48 Hours on Oshima Island": member in a shape the assembler does not write: {"meId":6,"meRef":"ing_Z66XK3zu5Fs_me_5"}