Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Because Iōjima's massive volcano Mt Iō occupies so much of its land area, and because
the volcano blocks passage to Iōjima's eastern end, there is no road that encircles the island.
All roads essentially begin and end or revolve around the port town. The lack of a circle-is-
land route, however, in no way subtracts from an otherwise excellent little network of roads
going to almost every corner of the island. For instance, the road leading from town to the
island's northeasternmost tip first passes through a deliciously scented stretch of citrus grove,
then a bamboo forest sheltering the hidden Shintō Shrine (a short hike off the road), then a
now forbidden wild road (too dangerous) that twists and turns almost to the top of Iō peak,
then to the Sakamoto Onsen (
坂本温泉
; Sakamotoonsen) and finally ends at the Heike Castle
Ruins site (
平家城跡
; Heike-jō ato). All this in the space of 3 miles (5 kilometers)! Incidentally
and unfortunately, the Sakamoto outdoor hot springs are no longer operative. Their under-
ground source stopped or became diverted and they've been abandoned for now. It's perfectly
conceivable that Mt Iō's boiling waters could return to Sakamoto again some day.
Mount Iō at left and its little sister and new neighbor, Shōwa Iōjima, at right.
Higashi Onsen and Higashi-no Tatigami-iwa.
Fortunately, there's another free outdoor hot springs on Iōjima, and this one is even more
beautiful. Here, you follow the road out of town, at first through the same orange tree groves
but then southeast past an observation platform where you can see Kuchinoerabu, Yakushi-
ma and Tanegashima Islands, then a little further following the signs to the Higashi Onsen
