Aogashima Island (Philippine Sea)

I saw this picture last night while navigating a site called " Impressive Places" on FaceBook.  The label "Aogashima Island in the Philippine Sea" meant that anything Philippine related excites me. I shared the post with my FB friends as well as the BCHSIAA ON Chapter and the BCHS Class 62 FaceBook accounts.

Contrary to my first impression, this island is anything but Philippine owned.  Here are the facts I gathered.

Aogashima Island is in the Philippine Sea, a population of 205 (2009 census), is owned and administered under the Hachijo Subprefecture of Tokyo Metropolis (resource: Wikipedia).

Island is formed out of an active volcano crater, last eruption 18th Century.  This place is definitely habitable and has defined trails and sights leading up to town of Aogashima.  Entire population lives on a small part of the Island (see upper right hand side of the picture above), where buildings such as the General Store, School, Church are located.

(Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/izuyan/sets/72157626606763266/with/5668659161/)

Island is accessible by a helicopter ride or by ferry. To get to the island, take a ferry from Takeshiba Port or plane from Haneda in Tokyo to Hachijojima; then charter a boat or helicopter to Aogashima. Tokyo flight to Hachijojima approx US$320 roundtrip;  Helicopter ride to Aogashima from Hachijojima approx US$120.  Suggested best time - summer.

Alternate Site for an X'mas Holiday (as hinted by Gali Munar):

Timeline Photos By: foto

One of the toughest hiking points - Hiking Huayna Picchu- Machu Picchu- Peru