Shikinejima
Family-Friendly Hotels in Shikinejima: Shallow Beaches & Seaside Hot Springs
A small Izu Islands getaway reached by boat from Tokyo: families can enjoy the calm, shallow Tomari Beach and swimsuit-friendly seaside hot springs
8 family-friendly hotels in Shikinejima, verified by Kids Stay: 7 with tatami rooms and 4 with beach access. Every listing is checked against the official hotel website or Rakuten Travel.
Shikinejima is a small island in the Izu Islands chain, part of Tokyo Metropolis, floating just southwest of Niijima. With a coastline of only about 12 km, its jagged, ria-type shore is dotted with shallow, calm-watered beaches, making it a perfect island for playing in the sea with kids. It's about a 3-hour ride from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat (a large ferry is also available), or just about 15 minutes by connecting boat from Niijima. You can also get there via Niijima from Chofu Airport.
The island's biggest draw is a sea that's safe for kids to play in. Tomari Beach, set in a round cove, has extremely calm waves and a shallow, gently sloping shore, making it perfect for a child's first time swimming in the ocean. There's also Nakanoura Beach for snorkeling and Ishijirogawa Beach near the village, and thanks to the island's small size, you can walk to the beach right from your hotel.
Another local specialty is the free hot springs you can soak in while wearing your swimsuit. Jinata Onsen, a hidden spring where the water temperature shifts with the tides, the seaside open-air Matsugashita Miyabi-yu, and Ashitsuki Onsen, shallow enough for kids to enjoy, all let you combine a soak in a natural hot spring with your beach time. All of them are free and open 24 hours, so families can enjoy the feel of a hot spring hopping tour.
Places to stay are mostly homey family-run inns, ryokan, and guesthouses. Home-cooked meals at fisherman's inns made with fresh fish and island vegetables, plus homemade tokoroten (a local seaweed jelly), are part of the island's food culture. With beautiful starry skies and plenty of room for kids to roam free in nature, it's an island that's gentle on families traveling together.
Highlights
- checkThe round-cove Tomari Beach, with its shallow, calm waters, is ideal for a child's first swim in the sea
- checkFree swimsuit-friendly seaside hot springs are scattered around, including Jinata Onsen, Matsugashita Miyabi-yu, and Ashitsuki Onsen
- checkJust 15 minutes by connecting boat from Niijima, and small enough to walk from your hotel to the beach or a hot spring
Family-friendly features in Shikinejima
Recommended hotels (8)
Guest House Tomaritomaro Shikinejima
Minshuku Genjiro Shikinejima
Hidabun Shikinejima
Ryokan Shikinekan Shikinejima
Suzutoyo Shikinejima
Shimayado Shimizuya Shikinejima
Minshuku Toube Shikinejima
Kikusui Ryokan Shikinejima
See all hotels in Shikinejima (8)expand_more
Kid-friendly facilities at family hotels in Shikinejima
Kids Stay checked the official information of 8 family hotels in Shikinejima and found 19 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)
- Ryokan Shikinekan Shikinejima · Fresh seafood from a fisherman's ryokan, plus fishing and boat transfers: This is a fisherman's ryokan with its own boat, so you can taste dishes made with freshly caught seafood. The hosts will also talk through fishing and boat transfers to fishing spo
- Minshuku Genjiro Shikinejima · Home-cooked island food with local fish and kitchen-garden vegetables: The inn is proud of its home cooking, made with fresh fish caught locally and vegetables from its own kitchen garden, prepared to bring out the flavor of the ingredients. In summer
- Shimayado Shimizuya Shikinejima · Home-cooked local fish and island vegetables, and an irori hearth: Meals make generous use of fish landed at Shikinejima and island-grown vegetables, seasoned in the way that is Shimizuya's own. You can taste the season in dishes such as aka-ika (
- Minshuku Toube Shikinejima · A relaxing lobby with 600 manga and coffee: The lobby holds about 600 manga volumes, and coffee is served free of charge. On rainy days, in the evening or while waiting for the boat, parents and children can read manga toget
- Kikusui Ryokan Shikinejima · Fresh fish from a fishing family's inn, plus ocean-view tatami rooms nearest the port: About a 5-minute walk from Nobushi Port, this is the closest of the island's places to stay to the port. All 8 rooms are Japanese-style tatami rooms with ocean views, and each has
Baby-friendly bathhouses(5 hotels, 8 items)
- Guest House Tomaritomaro Shikinejima · Free sea-edge onsen dotted around the island: Free sea-edge onsen that you can enter in a swimsuit are dotted around Shikinejima. Jinata Onsen, where the water temperature shifts with the tides; Matsugashita Miyabiyu, an open-
- Ryokan Shikinekan Shikinejima · An island of shallow beaches and free seaside onsen: Shikinejima has the shallow, gentle waters of Tomari Beach and Nakanoura Beach, along with free seaside onsen you can enter in a swimsuit - Jinata Onsen, Matsugashita Miyabi-yu and
- Minshuku Genjiro Shikinejima · An island of shallow beaches and free seaside onsen: Shikinejima has Tomari Beach, with its shallow water and gentle waves, as well as Nakanoura Beach, along with free seaside onsen you enter in a swimsuit - Jinata Onsen, Matsugashit
- Shimayado Shimizuya Shikinejima · An island of shallow beaches and free seaside onsen: Shikinejima is dotted with Tomari Beach, with its shallow water and gentle waves, along with Nakanoura Beach and free seaside onsen you can enter in a swimsuit (Jinata Onsen, Matsu
- Minshuku Toube Shikinejima · An island of shallow beaches and free onsen in the sea: Shikinejima has Tomari Beach, shallow far out with gentle waves, and Nakanoura Beach, along with free onsen in the sea that you can enter in a swimsuit - Jinata Onsen, Matsugashita
Kitchens for self-catering(2 hotels, 2 items)
- Guest House Tomaritomaro Shikinejima · A well-equipped shared kitchen with children's chairs: The shared kitchen is thoroughly equipped with cookware, dishes, seasonings, a refrigerator-freezer, a convection microwave oven, a toaster, a griddle, a portable gas stove, a rice
- Hidabun Shikinejima · Free mini kitchen for self-catering, and family Japanese-style tatami rooms: A free mini kitchen is provided for self-catering, and the washing machine and dryer are free to use as well, which helps on a longer stay with children. Rooms range widely, from J
Outdoor play and gardens(4 hotels, 4 items)
- Guest House Tomaritomaro Shikinejima · Tomari Beach, 30 seconds away on foot (shallow water, gentle waves): Tomari Beach stretches out right beside the guest house, just 30 seconds on foot from the sand. Because it is a round cove, the waves are very gentle and the water stays shallow a
- Shimayado Shimizuya Shikinejima · Outdoor barbecue and rental bicycles for active days: There is an outdoor barbecue area where you can gather around island ingredients for a meal with an outdoor feel. Rental bicycles are available too, so you can take your time explo
- Hidabun Shikinejima · Ishijirogawa Beach, a 1-minute walk away, and the seaside onsen: Ishijirogawa Beach, near the village, is about a 1-minute walk away. It shelves gently for a long way out, which suits children playing in the sea. There is also a free seaside ons
- Suzutoyo Shikinejima · Tomari Beach, a 5-minute walk away (shallow, with gentle waves): Tomari Beach is right nearby, about a 5-minute walk. It forms a circular cove, so the waves are very gentle and the water stays shallow far out, and it is the most popular swimming
Seasonal collections for Shikinejima
Nearby attractions
Travel tips
You can reach the island by high-speed jet boat, large ferry, or a connecting boat from Niijima, with most boats departing from and arriving at Nobushi Port. The island is small enough to get around on foot or by rental bicycle. Because the seaside hot springs' accessible hours shift with the tide, it's reassuring to check the tide chart before you go. Confirm the swimming season for the beaches, and take heatstroke precautions in summer. Some family-run inns only take reservations by phone, so plan ahead.
Best season
Swimming season is summer (July to August). The seaside hot springs can be enjoyed year-round, and the starry skies are beautiful all year.
Getting there
About 3 hours from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat (a large ferry is also available). About 15 minutes by connecting boat from Niijima. Also reachable via Niijima from Chofu Airport. Get around the island on foot or by rental bicycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Shikinejima?
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You can get there in about 3 hours from Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo by high-speed jet boat, or by large ferry. From Niijima, it's about 15 minutes by connecting boat. There's also a route flying to Niijima from Chofu Airport and transferring to the connecting boat. Most boats depart from and arrive at Nobushi Port.
Is Shikinejima good for swimming with kids?
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Yes. Tomari Beach, set in a round cove, has extremely calm waves and a shallow, gently sloping shore, making it ideal for a young child's first swim in the ocean. There's also Nakanoura Beach for snorkeling and Ishijirogawa Beach near the village.
Can kids use the seaside hot springs on Shikinejima?
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Yes, there are free swimsuit-friendly seaside hot springs scattered around the island that families can enjoy. Ashitsuki Onsen is shallow and easy for kids to use, and Jinata Onsen, where the water temperature shifts with the tides, and the seaside open-air Matsugashita Miyabi-yu are also popular. Since the accessible hours change with the tide, check the tide chart before you go.
Can you get around Shikinejima without a car?
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Yes. With a coastline of only about 12 km, the island is small enough to explore the main beaches, hot springs, and village on foot or by rental bicycle. Being able to walk from your hotel to the beach is part of Shikinejima's appeal.