Bonin Islands

The Bonin Islands consist of three main groups spanning 84 square kilometers with steep shorelines, coral reefs, and subtropical forests across 30 islands.

The Spanish explorer Bernardo de la Torre first documented the islands in 1543, followed by British claims in 1827 and Japanese annexation in 1876.

The islands maintain a population of 2,560 residents who speak Japanese and a local variant called Bonin English, reflecting their mixed colonial heritage.

Transportation to these islands requires a long ferry journey from Tokyo aboard the Ogasawara Maru, as there are no airports on the islands.

The isolation of these islands has created distinct ecosystems with 500 plant species, where 43 percent exist nowhere else on Earth.

Location: Ogasawara Village

Part of: Ogasawara Archipelago

GPS coordinates: 26.99806,142.21806

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:51