Endless Stars in Kozushima

Kozushima, a roughly 18.5-kilometer island located 180 km south of central Tokyo is an oceanside paradise blessed with pristine beaches, rocky coastlines, and crystal waters. With opportunities for snorkeling, hiking, diving, barbequing, and more, Kozushima is a popular summertime retreat for Tokyoites. However, only once the sun sets and night blankets the tiny island, can you see Kozushima’s most treasured natural asset—its starry sky.

In December 2020, the International Dark-Sky Association designated Kozushima as an International Dark Sky Place due to its outstanding efforts to preserve the night sky. Since starting its dark sky journey prior to this designation, Kozushima has launched numerous initiatives and educational programs to combat light pollution. Most notably, in the spring of 2020, it started replacing its street lights with ones designed to minimize light pollution. With Kozushima’s anti-light pollution measures, it not only enhances the night sky, but also protects the habitats of endangered wildlife and supports energy efficiency. Throughout its dark sky mission, Kozushima has held lecture presentations for its residents to educate them about conservation efforts and alleviate any concerns. With its focus on education, Kozushima hopes to create an environment where children are raised to cherish the night sky and are empowered to revitalize their community.

In terms of tourism, Kozushima’s most influential program is its local stargazing guide training. The island began this course in 2017, three years before it started its International Dark Sky Place application, with the goal of training locals to conduct stargazing tours. During this course, participants learned about constellations, seasonal stargazing sights, and cultural events based on the Lunar calendar. Later, when the island started its dark sky application, it adjusted its training course to include light pollution education so guides could provide this information to tourists.

Today, these tours have become an integral part of Kozushima’s tourism industry. By educating tourists about the wonders of night sky and the island’s conservation efforts, the stargazing tours teach valuable information about Kozushima’s culture and empower people to preserve the environment. The stargazing tours also stimulate the local economy by attracting tourists to Kozushima where their spending supports the community.

Through its International Dark Sky Place initiatives, Kozushima demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and has created a legacy that future residents and tourists can marvel at for years to come.

Miyakejima: a Birdwatcher’s Paradise

Located about 180 kilometers south of Tokyo’s coast, Miyakejima is an exotic getaway home to an active volcano. With rugged coastlines molded by past volcanic eruptions, stunning forests, and clear waters, the island is popular among adventurers. In fact, a portion of the island is still marred by Mt. Oyama’s eruption in 1983. Here, people can walk across charred landscapes and admire the poetic contrast of black rock and reemerging plantlife—a symbol of the resilient culture of the island. Miyakejima is renowned for its high density of rare birds and giant trees, drawing attention from nature enthusiasts in Japan and beyond.

Miyakejima Nature Center Akakokko (Akakokkokan) is a nature facility located on the southern end of the island committed to preserving and educating visitors about Miyakejima’s environment. The center’s exhibition space features information about the island’s wild birds, marine life, and volcanic activity, as well as Akakokkokan’s history. From the facility’s observation room, visitors can admire Izu thrush (Akakokko) and many other birds. Rangers of the Wild Bird Society of Japan are also stationed at the center to conduct research and provide information to guests.

In terms of tourism, Akakokkokan holds numerous events throughout the year to connect visitors with Miyakejima’s nature—from bird watching in spring to exploring marine life in summer. “It’s important to show tourists how beautiful and amazing nature is, so they feel an urgency to preserve it,” says Akinori Naito, a park ranger of the Wild Bird Society of Japan. One of Naito’s favorite hiking spots is around Tairo-ike Pond near the nature facility where an over 600-year old sudaji tree, named Maigojii, grows. Sudaji are sacred evergreen trees that fill the island’s forests and are collectively regarded as a kami, or god, of the island. Unfortunately, the populations of these trees and many of the island’s birds are decreasing. “If we don’t protect the animals and birds of Miyakejima, then they will go extinct, and future generations will not be able to fully enjoy the nature of the area,” Naito shared.

To help preserve and spread awareness about these vulnerable species, Akakokkokan incorporates regenerative tourism into its educational offerings. During events and hiking tours, tour guides share nature etiquette rules with participants so they understand how to care for the environment. The facility also disseminates this information at booths around the island. In one instance, during a summertime event, a guide explained how to best care for coral. “Some people didn’t realize the difference between rocks and coral. It was only during this tour that they learned that they need to be careful on certain parts of the island,” Naito explained. This interaction demonstrates the vital role education plays in preserving and enhancing the island’s natural environment.

One of Akakokkokan’s most impactful events is Akakokko no Mori Zukuri (Akakokko Forestation)–-a yearly event held to improve the habitat of the Izu thrush, an endangered species. During this event, people from inside and outside the island help clear vegetal undergrowth and create a watering hole so the Izu thrush can feed on earthworms. Not only does this event immerse visitors in Miyakejima’s nature, but it directly affects the well being of the Izu thrush, illustrating the core meaning of regenerative tourism.

Through education and hands-on activities, Akakokkokan plays an important role in preserving the unique ecosystem of Miyakejima and is a wonderful example of how Tokyo’s tourist destinations are embracing regenerative tourism to achieve a sustainable future.

Sea Turtles and Ogasawara

Located far beyond the city skyline, Ogasawara is a tiny chain of islands situated roughly 1,000 kilometers south of Tokyo. Although the islands are technically a part of Tokyo, their subtropical climate and island-specific flora and fauna make them seem worlds away. For vacationers, the islands’ stunning beaches and jungle-covered hills provide ample opportunities for hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and more.

Aside from its tourism appeal, Ogasawara’s ecosystem is a wealth of biodiversity and serves as the habitat for a number of endangered species. In order to protect this valuable environment, the Ogasawara Marine Center performs research and hosts a variety of tourist activities to spread awareness about its conservation efforts. Given its focus on green sea turtles, the facility has earned the nickname, the “Turtle Center.” In fact, Ogasawara is the largest breeding ground for green sea turtles in Japan.

In terms of sea turtle conservation, the marine center offers a variety of classes and activities to connect tourists with Ogasawara’s marine life. In Kitayama’s words, “One of the most effective ways to teach people about conservation is to create special memories with them. You have to make them feel something.” At the center, guests can attend multi-hour sea turtle classes where they not only learn about the ecology and current status of sea turtles, but also interact with them through feeding and shell polishing activities. In Kitayama’s experience, people leave these classes more interested in sea turtles than when they started. She has even had excited children come up to her after events, saying that they now want to work with marine life in the future. “The marine center puts a heavy emphasis on education,” Kitayama shared, “By creating unforgettable memories, we help people realize how important it is to protect the environment.”

One of the facility’s most immersive tourist offerings is its egg burying experience. Many sea turtles visit Omura Beach to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, due to light pollution, newly hatched turtles move to the city rather than the ocean, which can have devastating effects. To combat this problem, the marine center relocates eggs laid on this beach to a spawning ground in the center. Tourists then have the opportunity to rebury these eggs. With this activity, tourists directly support the center with its conservation efforts, making it a prime example of regenerative tourism. After the facility raises these turtles to a specific size, tourists can again play a role in their wellbeing by releasing them into the ocean.

“Tourists love these events,” Kitayama shared. In fact, some participants are so moved by their experiences that they become active members of the center and provide donations. This monetary exchange illustrates a key component of regenerative tourism. By participating in these tourist activities, visitors not only better Ogasawara’s environment, but also support the center’s financial health so it can continue its valuable mission. With this sustainable loop between tourists and Ogasawara, residents and visitors can enjoy the area’s rich nature for years to come.

No Change is Too Small

Although small in size, Tokyo’s islands are abundant in unspoilt nature, wildlife, and cultural charm, making them cherished vacation spots for many. Their isolated habitats, which have fostered rich communities and biodiversity, are a far cry from the urban jungle of the mainland. In order to preserve their legacies, these islands’ have started incorporating regenerative travel into their tourism offerings. These sustainable activities play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the islands. However, these changes do not end on the islands’ shores. By including tourists in conservation efforts, Tokyo’s island’s create bonds between people, nature, and wildlife. These bonds open tourists’ eyes to the splendor that is all around them and can act as catalysts for them to make changes in their own lives—breeding long-term change in Tokyo and beyond.