[2025 Latest] Seasonal events and best seasons to visit Kozushima , a hidden gem in Tokyo!

• Table of Contents
• Where is Kozushima?
• Annual Event Schedule
• If you want to see the best starry sky season, we recommend autumn, from September to November!
• If you want to enjoy the best season at the beach, we recommend the summer months from July to early October!
• Now, let's plan your trip to Kozushima!

Where is Kozushima?

Kozushima is one of the Izu Islands , an isolated island off Tokyo . It is only 45 minutes by plane from Tokyo and is one of the best beaches in Japan with good water quality. Mt. Tenjo is also one of the 100 famous mountains for flowers. The beautiful night sky has been certified as a "Dark Sky Place" and is also known as a world heritage site for starry skies. The island is full of attractive spots such as hot springs and fresh fish, and has a rich nature and unique history and culture that you would never think it was in the same Tokyo.

For recommended ways to access Kozushima, please see this article.

Annual Event Schedule

I wrote this starting in April to coincide with the new school term in Japan.
This is just a rough guideline, and events may be subject to change. Please check with the organizers to confirm whether the event will be held.

April

12th🌕Full Moon
15th Nagahama Festival 
The second weekend of April Ebine Exhibition 
22nd Lyrid meteor shower
28th🌑 New Moon

■ Nagahama Festival

The annual festival of Awano mikoto Shrine near Nagahama Beach .
Pick up a flat stone on the beach, place gravel wet with seawater on top of it, called "shiohana," and offer it at the torii gate before praying.
A typical way for the islanders of Kozushima to spend time is to visit the shrine as a family and then enjoy a meal together, such as a barbecue.

■ Ebine Exhibition

There is a beautiful orchid called "Kozu Ebine" that is endemic to Kozushima. It used to grow wild on the island, but unfortunately it is now on the verge of extinction due to overexploitation. Every April, an exhibition and competition is held for  Kozu Ebine, calanthe orchids,  that have been carefully divided and grown by enthusiasts.
The sweet aroma fills the air as you enjoy the exhibition, and you can take your time to admire each pot.
Tourists can also enter.

May

13th🌕Full Moon
27th🌑New Moon
*The consecutive holidays known as Golden Week from April 26th to May 6th will be very busy, so be sure to book accommodation and transportation early.

■ Kozushima in May is recommended for mountain climbing!
Hiking Mt.Tenjo is easy even for beginners, and even exparts will be very satisfied with the ever-changing scenery despite it being a low mountain!

■ The Oshima azaleas on Mt. Tenjo  are also in full bloom from late April to May.
You can also find colorful flowers at 「Azalea Park」 near Tako Bay Campground!

If the weather is nice you can swim in the sea, but the water may still feel cold.
In that case, head straight to a warm hot spring! Open-air baths are convenient because you can enter in your swimsuit!

June

11th🌕Full Moon
25th🌑New Moon

In Japan, the rainy season begins around June. The weather is often unstable and transportation schedules can be complicated during this time, so travel plans to the islands require careful preparation.

Since there are fewer people around, it is recommended to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the sound of the rain.
You might even be able to witness a fiery sunset after the rain!

Also, on Kozushima, the season for swordtip squid, also known as Red squid (Aka ika) , is from May to June.
At the pier, you can see anglers engaged in night fishing, and the lights of many squid fishing boats are lit up in the dark sea.
Once you try the sweet and tender squid, you'll never forget the taste!
Enjoying island cuisine as a special treat for the day and spending the day relaxing is also a luxurious way to travel.

July

11th🌕Full Moon
25th🌑New Moon
July 31st 　Annual Festival Yoimiya at Monoimina no mikoto shrine
*Japanese schools start their summer vacation around the 19th.

If you want to go when there are fewer people, we recommend the first half of July.
Once the rainy season ends and the midsummer sun shines, the sea will appear even bluer.
The season has arrived when you can fully enjoy swimming in the sea!

■Eve of the Annual Festival
The annual festival of Monoimina Shrine begins.
On the 31st, the shrine becomes lively with night stalls set up and performances of Kozu Taiko drums and dance.

August

1st  Annual Festival, 2nd day
2nd Annual Festival 3rd Day - Bonito Fishing Ritual
Date TBD Fireworks 
9th🌕Full Moon
13th Perseid meteor shower
23rd🌑New Moon
*The Obon holiday in the middle of the month will be particularly busy, so make sure you book accommodation and transportation early!

■August 1st-2nd: Annual Festival
Over the course of two days, a portable shrine is carried around the island.
They proceed while being showered with water, and even enter the sea near the fishing port to purify themselves, and then their final entrance into the shrine is a spectacular sight!

■ Bonito fishing ritual

This is a traditional ritual held at Monoimina no mikoto Shrine in Kozushima. It is a prayer for fishermen's bountiful catches and safety at sea, and has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
Using a bamboo Funagata, a papier-mache bonito, auction tools, and a carrying basket, the entire process of bonito fishing is reenacted, from boarding the boat, fishing, auctioning, and carrying. The audience is treated as bonito, and skits are performed using old language, scattering ohineri (coins)  and sweets, and depicting the actions of catching bonito and bidding at the market.

■ Fireworks Festival
Fireworks launched at Maehama beach.
The fireworks reflected on the sea are incredibly beautiful, and seeing them up close is extremely impressive!

*As of March 2025, the dates for this year have yet to be decided. They are usually announced around May.

September

8th Total Lunar Eclipse🌕Full Moon
22nd🌑New Moon

■ Total lunar eclipse

This will be the first time since November 2022 that a total lunar eclipse can be seen across Japan. The full moon that rose in the evening on the 7th will begin to wane at 1:27 am on the 8th, just as the date changes. The full moon will be completely in the Earth's shadow from 2:30 am to 3:53 am, and the partial eclipse will end at 4:57 am. In other words, it's showtime all night long!

When observing from a place with little light pollution and a dark night sky like Kozushima , as the total lunar eclipse begins, the moonlight will dim and the surrounding stars will become even clearer. You'll discover new things, like "I didn't know the moon was this bright!" and "Even though it's a full moon, there are so many stars!" It will be a special memory that can only be found on Kozushima, where the night sky is dark!

As the summer holidays come to an end, the number of visitors to the island decreases, so you can avoid the crowds, especially on weekdays.
The beach is still in season, so you can enjoy not only swimming but also marine activities such as diving!

October

6th Mid-Autumn Moon
7th🌕Full Moon
21st🌑 New Moon and Orionid meteor shower

You can enjoy the night sky, the mountains, and the sea, but the crowds tend to thin out, so if you want to fully enjoy Kozushima, October is the best season!

■ Mid-Autumn Moon
This is the custom of gazing at the moon on August 15th of the lunar calendar and praying for a good harvest.
It is said that this is the time of the year when the moon looks most beautiful, and the custom of admiring the moon reflected in water is said to have begun in the Heian period ( around bc 794) .
It is said that there is another custom on Kozushima of "waiting for the moon," so if you're interested, be sure to ask the older people on the island!

■ Orionid meteor shower

In 2025, the event will be most active from October 2nd to November 7th, reaching its peak on the 21st.
It will coincide with a new moon and will not be affected by moonlight, so if the weather is good, it is expected that about 15 to 20 meteors will be visible per hour.

November

5th🌕Full Moon Southern Taurids Meteor Shower
12th Northern Taurids meteor shower
18th Leonid meteor shower
20th🌑New Moon

■ The best season for viewing starry skies when many meteor showers overlap
Although the Taurid meteor shower has a low number of meteors, it is well known for the frequent appearance of bright meteors called fireballs. Some research suggests that 2025 will be a year in which fireballs will increase in the Southern Taurids.
The peak date on the 5th will be the full moon, but the meteor shower's active period is long, from late September to around December, and the bright shooting stars often shine just as brightly as the moonlight, so you can look forward to seeing some great sights!

The Leonid meteor shower is also predicted to be active from November 6th to 30th. It will peak on November 18th when the moon is close to new, meaning there will be almost no moonlight to interfere, creating excellent conditions for meteor observation. You may be able to see around 5 to 10 meteors per hour. You may also be able to see trails of light called meteor trails, and you can also expect to see bright fireballs.

To coincide with the best season for stargazing, we plan to hold often our " FamiliA Planet" experience, an amazing starry sky experience, at Vacation House FamiliA, an B&B on Kozushima !

Enjoy stargazing at the "Starry Sky CHILL Terrace" just three steps away from your room, or zero minutes on foot.
From then on, all the guests will count shooting stars and try their hand at observing Saturn and Jupiter using telescopes and binoculars.

Relax in a hammock chair with the sound of the waves in the background and you're sure to have an unforgettable evening.
Please see this article for more details.

December

5th🌕Full Moon
14th Geminids meteor shower 
20th🌑New Moon

■ The Geminids meteor shower 
Geminids are one of the "three major meteor showers" alongside the Quadrantids and Perseids, and attract many people due to their beauty and the stable viewing conditions every year.

What's more, under favorable conditions, it is predicted that in 2025, 30 to 40 meteors will be visible per hour. The most active period will be from December 4th to 17th, with the peak occurring around 5pm on December 14th. The radiant point will be high from late on the 14th to late at night on the 15th, so there will be a good chance to observe many meteors.

As December approaches, it becomes cold for outdoor observations.
In particular, on Kozushima, the winds from the western sea become stronger in winter, so it is a good idea to take measures to protect yourself from the cold and wind when setting out to observe.

At Vacation House FamiliA, you can enjoy stargazing from the terrace, so even if it's cold, you can easily go inside the building to warm up. Even if your small children get sleepy, adults can quietly look up at the stars after they fall asleep.

What's more, you can look up at the starry sky from the windows of the ocean view room.
you can search for shooting stars until just before you fall asleep, and in the morning the clear blue ocean spreads out from the same window.
What a dream-like experience it is!

Book an Ocean View Room

January 2026

1st First sunrise 
2nd Norizome (first ride) Festival 
3rd🌕Full moon
4th: Quadrantid meteor shower
14th Flower New Year for children 
19th🌑 New Moon

■ Norizome 

This is a fishermen's festival held every year on January 2nd at the fishing port of Tako Bay to pray for bountiful catches and safety for the year.
With spirited shouts, each fishing boat throws out sweets and other gifts. Since mikan (mandarin oranges) are also thrown, it is also called "mikan maki." For the islanders, it is also an opportunity to exchange New Year's greetings.
Tourists are also welcome to participate, so you'll be able to experience the local atmosphere.

■ Flower New Year

This is a traditional event held on January 14th to pray for the health and longevity of children. sweet dumplings skewered on bamboo and camellia branches are offered to the God of Hoso at Hoso shrine. After the prayer, only the camellia branch is left and the children eat the dumplings. Bring the branches of a tobera tree called shichiribarri at home. When the branch is burned in a brazier or hearth, it makes a snapping sound (shichiribarri), which is said to be a charm to ward off illness.

February 2026

2nd🌕Full moon
17th🌑 New Moon

■ Camellia
February is the best time to see camellias. You can see many flowers within walking distance of the shrine's approach and Mt. Chichibu.
In winter, the winds on Kozushima are strong and the sea is rough.
The strong winds and waves mix the ocean and wash over the rocks, allowing rock nori seaweed to grow well. The strong winds are also useful for drying sweet potatoes and fish. The charm of this season is that such bounty of nature is served on the dinner table, you can get a glimpse of island life, and you can have leisurely conversations with the islanders.

Rough weather can cause ships and flights to be canceled, so be sure to allow plenty of time when planning your trip.

March 2026

3rd: Full moon and total lunar eclipse
March 13th = January 25th of the lunar calendar. The god of the25th day
19th🌑 New Moon

The total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026 will also be observable in Japan. A total lunar eclipse cannot be enjoyed every year, and the next one will be on January 1, 2029.

■The god of 25th Day

January 25th on the lunar calendar is a special day when the entire Kozushima is asleep.
You are not allowed to work at the sea or in the mountains, you are not allowed to go out at night, you need to make sure that no lights are leaking outside at night, and you are only allowed to speak in hushed voices.
What if you don't keep the promise...?

On this day, even hot springs and restaurants close by evening.
Kozushima is the only island in the Izu Islands where the customs are still strictly observed to this day.
If you're interested in what these legends are, be sure to come to Kozushima and ask the older people there!

Although winter is a season in which severe weather continues for a long time, strangely enough, on the 25th of each month, the sea is often calmer than predicted...

You can enjoy the story of the god of the 25th day, as well as the history and cltures of the island, through an audio guide on site.
Download the app and enjoy touring the island while looking at the map!

If you want to see the best starry sky season, we recommend autumn, from September to November!

Conditions favorable for observing meteor showers will continue from late September through December, but there are other reasons why autumn is the best time to see the starry skies.

Not only is it a certified Dark Sky Place, but due to the island's topography, there is a large expanse of sky with nothing blocking the view, so you can see the summer constellations setting and the winter constellations rising. If it's clear, you can watch the constellations change all night long.

Another advantage is that the planets reach high altitudes at during the night, making it easy to observe Saturn and Jupiter.

As the day time get shorter in autumn, even on days when the moon is relatively large, the opportunity before the moon rises or after it sets is longer than in summer, making this a great time to spot sights.

Winter is also a good time for observing the stars, as the nights are long and the air is clear, but the temperature drops and the wind gets stronger, so observing outdoors for long periods of time may be a bit more difficult. In that respect, autumn has just the right weather, allowing you to enjoy the starry sky fully.

For more information, please refer to the article on starry skies.

If you want to enjoy the best season at the beach, we recommend the summer months from July to early October!

August in particular is packed with festivals, fireworks, the Perseid meteor shower and other events!
During the Obon holidays (mid August ), reservations for boats and accommodations fill up early, so be sure to start preparing for your trip early.

Japanese schools are on summer vacation from late July to the end of August, so if you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to visit at a different time.
The sea water temperature usually remains around 20°C until early November, so you can enjoy swimming in a swimsuit until around October before the outside temperature drops.

If you want to get a diving license, it's easier to make a reservation in early July or late September, so you can aim for a calm day at the beach and have fun while you get your qualification.

Now, let's plan your trip to Kozushima!

If you want to enjoy Kozushima to the fullest, one night is definitely not enough, so we recommend staying at least two nights, and three nights or more during the peak season.
Because it is a place rich in nature, transportation from the mainland, such as by boat or plane, and activities on the island are all dependent on the weather, so be sure to plan your trip with plenty of time.

This is a sample route for a five- Tomari, four-night trip. Please use it as a reference for planning your trip.

For accommodation on Kozushima, choose Vacation House FamiliA!

What do you think? We hope that we were able to convey the charm of each season.
Huh? Every season is so appealing, I can't decide...?

That's right! What's great about Kozushima is that it's full of different expressions and charm in every season!
Please come and visit us again and again in different seasons!

Traveling to Japan or the countryside calls for a little adventure.
We at FamiliA can also provide support in English.
We love traveling too, so we are here to help you enjoy your time on Kozushima to the fullest, so please feel free to contact us.

Come and enjoy breakfast, a cup of coffee and chat with fellow guests at the cafe bar on the first floor!

To make a reservation for Vacation House FamiliA, click here