Located about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from
Tokyo and around the same latitude as Miami and the Canary Islands, this island
group encompasses Chichijima, Hahajima, and other islands large and small. Situated
in isolation on the Pacific, these islands do not have a long history of human
habitation. Europeans and American settlers first came to Chichijima and other
islands in the group from Hawaii in 1830. Japanese immigration began in earnest
around 1876. The islands were under US control following World War II and were
returned to the Japanese in 1968. The Ogasawara Islands (also known as the Bonin
Islands) are home to many animals and plants that live nowhere else in the world.
Their status as a biological treasure house has earned the island group the nickname
"The Galapagos of the East."
Sightseeing highlights
Swimming with dolphins: The waters around the islands
are home to a sizable population of dolphins. Lucky visitors may get an opportunity
to swim alongside these beautiful, intelligent sea mammals.
Whale watching: There are two types of whales that
viewers are most likely to see. Humpback whales can be seen from around December
through May, and sperm whales can be seen from around April through December.
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