Okinotorishima, Coral atoll in Ogasawara Archipelago, Japan
Okinotorishima is a coral reef in the Pacific Ocean roughly 1700 kilometers south of Tokyo in the Philippine Sea basin. The reef forms an oval shape with two small rock formations named Kitakojima and Higashikojima that are surrounded by a shallow lagoon.
A Spanish explorer observed this formation in 1543 during an expedition through the western Pacific and named it Parece Vela. Japan assumed administrative control over the area in the early 20th century and began constructing protective structures around the rocks in the 1980s.
Japanese scientists work on concrete platforms above the lagoon, studying tropical marine ecosystems throughout the year. The research station serves as a permanent presence in this remote territory and allows long-term observations of the surrounding waters.
The extreme remoteness makes visiting practically impossible without special authorization and organized support from Japanese authorities. Getting there requires multiday sea journeys from the nearest inhabited islands with often rough seas and changing weather.
The two rock outcrops rise only a few centimeters above sea level and are sometimes completely submerged during high waves. Concrete walls and wave breakers surround both rocks to protect them from complete erosion by rising sea levels.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
