Niijima
Family-Friendly Hotels in Niijima: White-Sand Beaches & Free Open-Air Hot Springs
An Izu Islands getaway reached by boat from Tokyo: families can enjoy Habushiura's white sand, the shallow Maehama coast, and the swimsuit-friendly Yunohama open-air hot spring
13 family-friendly hotels in Niijima, verified by Kids Stay: 8 with tatami rooms, 5 with private cottages and villas, 5 with kitchenettes and 8 with beach access. Every listing is checked against the official hotel website or Rakuten Travel.
Niijima is an island in the Izu Islands chain, part of Tokyo Metropolis, known for its white sand beaches, free open-air hot springs, and the distinctive scenery created by koga-ishi, the island's specialty stone. It's about a 2-hour-20-minute ride from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat (a large ferry is also available), or about 40 minutes by plane from Chofu Airport. Just to the south is Shikinejima, a 15-minute connecting-boat ride away, and many families combine a visit to both islands.
One thing families who love the ocean will appreciate is how different the island's beaches are from each other. Habushiura Beach, with about 2 km of white sand, is known as a mecca for surfers, but its spacious shore is also great for playing in the sand or taking a walk, and it's a popular photo spot for its stunning scenery. Maehama Beach, near the village, on the other hand, is shallow with calm waves, making it perfect for a child's first swim in the ocean. There are even seaside family-run inns right across from Maehama Beach.
Another local specialty is Yunohama Open-Air Hot Spring, a free bath you can soak in while wearing your swimsuit. Lined with white structures reminiscent of a Greek temple, it's open free of charge 24 hours a day, with views over the Pacific Ocean. It's an experience unique to Niijima that families can drop by after a day at the beach.
Koga-ishi, the island's specialty stone, is rare even on a global scale, and melting it down to craft olive-green glassware is one of Niijima's signature crafts. At the Niijima Glass Art Center, you can try your hand at glassmaking, making it a perfect way to create summer vacation memories with your kids. Hunting for the Moyai statues, the moai-like figures carved from koga-ishi that are scattered around the island, is another fun activity. Places to stay are mostly homey family-run inns, where home-cooked meals made with local fish are part of the appeal.
Highlights
- checkThe 2 km white sand of Habushiura Beach, and the shallow, family-friendly Maehama Beach
- checkThe free, swimsuit-friendly Yunohama Open-Air Hot Spring, open 24 hours
- checkFamilies can enjoy trying glass art made from koga-ishi stone and hunting for Moyai statues
Family-friendly features in Niijima
Recommended hotels (13)
Surf Station Habushi Niijima
Guest House Iketa Niijima
Kikuya Niijima
Minshuku Shimbei Niijima
Niijima Okesho
Niijima Yamagawa Okesho
Minshuku Honyo Niijima
Etcetera Guest House Niijima
Minshuku Yaji Niijima
Niijima Grand Hotel
See all hotels in Niijima (13)expand_more
Kid-friendly facilities at family hotels in Niijima
Kids Stay checked the official information of 13 family hotels in Niijima and found 26 kid-friendly facilities on site. Here is a sample by category so you can compare facilities before choosing a room.
Kids' meals and baby food(5 hotels, 5 items)
- Minshuku Yaji Niijima · Chinese and Taiwanese cooking with homemade desserts: What sets this guesthouse apart is its Chinese and Taiwanese cooking along with homemade desserts. The Chinese flavors are easy for children to eat, so even a picky eater can enjoy
- Minshuku Yoshidaya Niijima · An excellent location in the center of Honson (group bookings accepted): In the middle of Honson, with shops and places to eat close by. Group bookings are accepted, so this Japanese-style tatami minshuku works well for three-generation and group family
- Minshuku Honyo Niijima · Home cooking with island flavors, including salt-grilled takabe: The minshuku prides itself on home-cooked dishes that make the most of island ingredients, starting with salt-grilled takabe caught in the waters around Niijima. Rich with fat, the
- Niijima Grand Hotel · Japanese-style tatami rooms and a generous variety of dishes: Rooms come as Japanese-style tatami rooms (up to 4 guests) and Western-style rooms, and the tatami rooms suit family stays well. The hotel can accommodate children co-sleeping. Mea
- Ryokan Onoya Niijima · Original regional cuisine made with local ingredients: The ryokan takes pride in original regional dishes you cannot taste anywhere else, made with fresh local ingredients. The family can enjoy the island's fresh catch together.
Baby-friendly bathhouses(4 hotels, 4 items)
- Kikuya Niijima · An island of free open-air onsen and glass art: Niijima has Yunohama Open-Air Onsen, a free open-air hot spring you enter in a swimsuit, where you can soak while looking out at the sea. There are also experiences the whole famil
- Minshuku Shimbei Niijima · An island of free open-air onsen and glass art: Niijima has a free open-air onsen, Yunohama Open-Air Onsen, which you enter in a swimsuit while looking out over the ocean. There are family-friendly experiences too, including the
- Etcetera Guest House Niijima · Refreshing in the sauna, and island cuisine nearby: The guesthouse has a proper sauna attached, where adults can refresh once the children are asleep. An izakaya (a Japanese pub serving food) nearby serves island cuisine, so you can
- Hamasho Niijima · An island of free open-air onsen and glass art: Niijima has Yunohama Open-Air Onsen, a free open-air onsen you enter in your swimsuit, where you can soak while looking out over the ocean. There are family experiences too, includ
Kitchens for self-catering(5 hotels, 5 items)
- Guest House Iketa Niijima · Detached Japanese-style and Western-style rooms with a full kitchen (whole-floor rental available): The guesthouse has a full kitchen, so you can cook for yourselves - handy for preparing your children's meals or baby food. The rooms are detached: an 8-tatami Japanese-style tatam
- Surf Station Habushi Niijima · Western-style rooms with a mini kitchen for self-catering: The rooms are Western-style, fitted with a bath, toilet, refrigerator and microwave. Some rooms also have a mini kitchen (reservation required), where you can warm up meals and bab
- Niijima Okesho · A whole traditional house with a full kitchen, washing machine and dryer: A whole-house rental in a traditional house equipped with a kitchen, cooking utensils, dishes, a washing machine, a dryer, a microwave and air conditioning. You can prepare meals o
- Niijima Yamagawa Okesho · A 77 sq m whole-house rental for up to 10 guests with a full kitchen: A detached house with a 77 sq m Japanese-Western room that up to 10 guests can have to themselves. The kitchen, cooking utensils, dishes, washing machine and microwave let you prep
- Etcetera Guest House Niijima · Mini kitchen, free laundry and private rooms: There is a mini kitchen and a free laundry corner, so you can prepare meals for your child or wash clothes worn at the beach. Private rooms are available too, including Nagisa-to f
Outdoor play and gardens(5 hotels, 11 items)
- Guest House Iketa Niijima · An island of shallow beaches, a free open-air onsen and glass art: Niijima has family-friendly spots dotted all over: Maehama Beach, which stays shallow far out from shore with gentle waves, the free open-air onsen Yunohama Roten Onsen, which you
- Kikuya Niijima · A handy spot in the center of town, 5 minutes' walk from Maehama Beach: Maehama Beach, which shelves gently with calm waves, is about a 5-minute walk away, so it is easy to take the children down for a swim whenever you like. Habushiura Beach is about
- Surf Station Habushi Niijima · Habushiura Beach, a 1-minute walk away (2 km of white sand): Habushiura Beach, with about 2 km of white sand, is roughly a 1-minute walk away. It is a mecca for surfing, but families with small children can enjoy it too - playing in the sand
- Niijima Okesho · An island of shallow beaches, a free open-air onsen and glass art: Niijima is dotted with spots the whole family can enjoy: the shallow Maehama Beach, Habushiura Beach renowned for surfing, Yunohama Open-Air Onsen (a free open-air onsen you enter
- Minshuku Shimbei Niijima · The closest inn to Habushiura Beach, with a 24-hour hot shower: One of the closest places to stay to Habushiura Beach, where about 2 km of white sand stretches away. Playing in the sand at the water's edge and taking a walk are both easy to enj
Seasonal collections for Niijima
Nearby attractions
Travel tips
You can reach the island by high-speed jet boat, large ferry, or plane, arriving at Niijima Port, Kurone Port, or Niijima Airport, and many hotels offer a pickup service. You can get around the island on foot, by rental bicycle, or by rental car. Habushiura Beach can have rough waves on some days, so shallow Maehama Beach is recommended for young children playing in the sea. You'll need a swimsuit for Yunohama Open-Air Hot Spring. Some family-run inns only take reservations by phone, so plan ahead.
Best season
Swimming season is summer (July to August). Yunohama Open-Air Hot Spring is open year-round, and the glass art experience and Moyai statue hunting can be enjoyed anytime.
Getting there
About 2 hours 20 minutes from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat (a large ferry is also available). About 40 minutes by plane from Chofu Airport. About 15 minutes by connecting boat from Shikinejima. Get around the island on foot, by rental bicycle, or by rental car, and many hotels offer pickup service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Niijima?
expand_more
You can get there in about 2 hours 20 minutes from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat, or by large ferry. From Chofu Airport, it's about 40 minutes by plane. You can also cross from Shikinejima in about 15 minutes by connecting boat. Many hotels offer a pickup service from the port or airport.
Is Niijima good for swimming with kids?
expand_more
Yes. Maehama Beach, near the village, is shallow with calm waves, making it well suited to a child's first swim in the ocean. There are even seaside family-run inns right across from Maehama Beach. Habushiura Beach, with its 2 km of white sand, is a surfing mecca and can have rough waves on some days, so Maehama Beach is recommended for young children playing in the sea.
Can kids use the hot spring on Niijima?
expand_more
Yes, the free, swimsuit-friendly Yunohama Open-Air Hot Spring is open 24 hours, so families can enjoy it together with views of the Pacific Ocean. A swimsuit is required, so be sure to bring one.
Are there experiences kids can enjoy on Niijima?
expand_more
The Niijima Glass Art Center, where you can try glassmaking with koga-ishi, the island's specialty stone, is popular. Making beautiful olive-green glass is a perfect way to create summer vacation memories. Hunting for the Moyai statues scattered around the island is another fun activity for families.