Swimming with dolphins at Mikurajima

About 200 kms south of Tokyo, there’s an island where nature has been left untouched, and where swimming with wild dolphins is a normal part of life. Mikurajima has a population of less than 300 people, who live in a single village in the midst of hills and dense forests. It’s become a popular ecotourism destination, however, on account of the waters surrounding the island, which provide a permanent habitat to some 150 Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins.

Enthusiasts who’ve traveled to similar spots all over the world rave about the experience of swimming with these beautiful creatures off the shores of Mikurajima.

Visitors can take an overnight ferry from Hamamatsucho direct to Mikurajima, or go via the nearby Miyakejima, a slightly larger island that has an airport and more regular ferry services. Package tours including overnight accommodation (with three meals), a dolphin swim, tour of the island and optional snorkeling lesson are available for Mikurajima (26,640 yen) and Miyakejima (35,000 yen, both excluding transportation), where visitors can stay at a lodge that has hosted the Imperial Family and various celebrities.

If you're pressed for time, you can take an overnight ferry to Miyakejima on a Friday, swim with dolphins, have lunch and a dip in an onsen on Saturday morning and fly back in the afternoon (16,500 yen, excluding transportation).

Dolphin Swimming Mikurajima: Tel: 04994-8-2605. www17.ocn.ne.jp/~tamagide/eindex.html, email tamaruto@ceres.ocn.ne.jp

Dolphin Club Miyakejima: Tel: 04994-6-0996, www.dolphin-club-miyakejima.com, email dolphin-club-tag@fork.ocn.ne.jp

Metropolis magazine

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