The Ranking System is divided into the following five categories: Gourmet, Experience, Shopping (Large Commercial Facilities), Shopping (Retail Facilities), and Tourism. The following are the results of the Experience Division:

This kimono rental shop is located in "Little Edo", Kawagoe. Their stand-out feature is that the professional photographers will accompany you to take photos at sightseeing spots. You can also enjoy a tea ceremony experience for an additional ¥500, a great value for a Japanese cultural experience.

This service allows you to travel around the city of Tokyo on an open double-decker bus. On the day of your trip, you can board the bus freely as you travel around popular areas such as Asakusa, Akihabara, and Nihonbashi. There are plenty of additional services that you can use in-vehicle, such as blanket rentals and free Wi-Fi.

This area is lined with many famous ramen shops, and is frequented by people stopping along the way as they travel between locations at Tokyo Station. You can enjoy Japan's leading tastes such as “Rokurinsha,” which is so popular it draws in long lines in Tokyo and Osaka, and “Gizou,” a salt ramen with Sendai beef tongue and green onion.

A studio with over 200 costumes, they are fully prepared to take full-fledged photo shoots, including professional hair and makeup, according to your desired image: from bridegroom, to dance troupe, to geisha, or even a wolf. The reception staff is also available in English and Chinese.

Tokai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. is a ship company that operates ferry routes between Tokyo and Atami, and to the Tokyo Islands. Ship routes include high-speed jet routes (Oshima, Ishima, Niijima, Shikinejima, Kozushima) and large passenger ship routes (Oshima, Iijima, Niijima, Shikinejima, Kozushima/Miyakejima, Mikurajima, Hachijojima).

As remote islands of Tokyo, one may assume them to be far, but they are actually surprisingly close. To Oshima, it only takes about 1 hour 45 minutes by high-speed jet boat, and 6 hours by large cruise ship (night trip). Depending on your schedule, you can choose which one to enjoy at which time.

The number of foreign tourists visiting the remote islands during their trip to Japan is increasing.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the Tokyo Islands is the beautiful sea and nature. "Snorkeling" and "Diving Experience" are particularly popular activities among people from countries with a large number of tourists in Japan, such as China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Many of them visit the Tokyo Islands for diving.

The Tokyo Islands are also known for their abundant nature. Attractions such as Shuzenji, the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Shigetsuden, and the Waka no Ura Nature Trail received 2 stars from the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and are regarded as "nature-rich and diverse cultural heritages of the world." According to the guide, it seems that the number of tourists visiting these natural areas is also increasing.

For tourists who want to experience diving and see the beautiful nature, but may not be able to visit the remote islands due to time or budget, the Tokyo Islands are a great alternative, and can be reached by boat from Tokyo.

Both high-speed jets and large cruise ships require advanced reservations, which can be easily done through their English Tokyo Islands Website (http://tokyoislands.jp/). Select your destination, boarding date, and number of passengers, then enter the required information to complete your reservation. The convenience of their English reservation system means there is no need to line up to purchase at the ticket window nor make a reservation in Japanese, and is another reason for its popularity.

You can take the Tokai Kisen ship from Tokyo at the Takeshiba Kaisen Terminal. The nearest station is the JR Hamamatsucho Station, which you can access via monorail from Haneda International Airport.

Takeshiba Kasen Terminal has a coffee shop, a store, and a restaurant (lunch only) in addition to the waiting room, so there things to do even if you arrive early. Gaze at the landscape of Tokyo and the sea from the 3rd floor, from which you can also see the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba on a clear day.

You will be guided into the ship as boarding time nears. Today we boarded the high-speed jet boat. There are four high-speed jet ferries in total, all painted in eye-catching pop colors by painter Ryohei Yanagihara.

Despite the high speeds at which it travels, you will hardly feel any turbulence while on this ship. The boat operates by gaining lift power from seawater instead of air, blowing out seawater with its jet engine, giving it the name "jet of the sea". Because it is unaffected by waves and doesn’t shake as much as other boats, there is no need to worry about seasickness. Even those who are not used to or comfortable with riding boats can feel more at ease on one of these ships.

The high-speed jet has two floors and holds a capacity of 254 people, all of which must be reserved in advance. There are restrooms and vending machines, as well as free blankets available on the ship. Because of the high speeds, you are required to wear a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion.

Another great thing about the ship is its free Wi-Fi, so you can review information about the Remote Islands while on the ship before your arrival. You will get there from Tokyo before you know it.

The time of arrival may vary depending on the weather and condition of the waves, but typically reaches Oshima in about 2 hours from boarding time. Oshima is home to some incredible natural areas, including the only black-sand desert in Japan, the Urasabaku Desert, and the 758-meter high active volcano, Mt. Mihara. You will hardly believe you are still in Tokyo!

If you are planning on staying in Japan for a while, or want to experience a trip unique from the average traveler, a boat trip around the Remote Islands of Tokyo is our recommendation!

Written by: Ran Tanaka. Translated by Krys Suzuki.