Kōzushima, Tokyo

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Kōzushima Village is a small island community in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. It sits on Kōzu Island, the northern part of the Izu archipelago in the Philippine Sea, about 178 kilometers south of central Tokyo. As of June 2022, about 1,841 people lived there, in an area of 18.58 square kilometers. The island has a warmer, wetter climate than Tokyo because of the nearby Kuroshio Current. The village was established on October 1, 1923, and its population has been shrinking since the 1990s.

The economy relies on fishing and seasonal tourism, with some small-scale farming. In the mid-20th century there were attempts to raise silkworms, but they did not last. Tourists come for sport fishing, scuba diving, and the white sandy beaches. Hiking trails circle the island’s center, especially around the Tenjō-san volcano.

Kōzushima is accessible by ferry from mainland Tokyo, Shimoda in Shizuoka, or other Izu Islands, and there are daily flights from Chōfu Airport to Kozushima Airport. The village has one public elementary school and one public middle school; a high school, Kōzu High School, is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and is the island’s only high school. Winter visits can be limited due to weather, and flights or ferries may be canceled.