Half-Day Chichijima Fishing Guide
Introduction
I hesitate to recommend the half-day charter aboard Hiyuu-maru out of Futami Port on Chichijima — not because the fishing disappoints, but because reaching the boat in the first place asks more of a traveler than almost any other charter in this guide. There is no airport on Chichijima and no flight that gets you there. The only way in is a 24-hour crossing aboard the passenger ferry Ogasawara-maru, and the island's fishing charters build their entire schedule around that ship's calendar rather than the other way around. On August 29th, 2026, that calendar happened to line up in a way that let visitors squeeze one more morning on the water in before boarding the boat home.
Why Chichijima Is a Hidden Gem for Offshore Jigging
Chichijima and the rest of the Ogasawara Islands carry UNESCO World Natural Heritage status, so the destination itself is well known. What almost nobody outside Japan knows is that the same waters hold a proper offshore jigging and casting fishery — reef species, amberjack, and yellowfin tuna all within reach of a half-day boat, run by a captain who fishes these grounds for a living. Getting there is the whole story: a fishing charter that only exists on a handful of days a month, dictated by when the one ferry from Tokyo happens to be in port.
That scarcity is exactly what makes it worth the trip. This is Japan fishing at its most remote, on an island where the fresh seafood on the table comes off these same reefs — a genuinely local travel find that most visitors to Tokyo never even hear about.
The Fishing Experience – Step by Step 🎣
- Get to Chichijima. Board Ogasawara-maru at Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo for the roughly 24-hour crossing to Futami Port — the island's only scheduled way in, since there is no air route at all.
- Get to the boat. Hiyuu-maru moors at Futami Port, a short distance from the passenger terminal where most guesthouses will meet you.
- Meet the captain. Hiyuu-maru is run by a second-generation fisherman who moved to the island and took over the boat from the previous owner; he'll walk beginners through rod handling before you start.
- Fish the half-day course. This course runs only on days Ogasawara-maru is departing Chichijima, working reef and offshore grounds around the island with light tackle up to deep jigging.
- Head back to the dock. The half-day trip lines up back at Futami Port around 1 p.m., leaving time to gather your bags and make the afternoon ferry.
Fishing Methods & Target Species
The fish pictured through this article aren't confirmed catches from August 29th — Hiyuu-maru doesn't publish a daily log, and these images are pulled from posts made across the boat's season, so I won't claim any one of them came aboard that day. What they do show lines up with the boat's regular target list: reddish groupers native to these subtropical reefs, amberjack, and yellowfin tuna among them.
- Offshore jigging — light tackle through deep-water jigging over structure around Chichijima.
- Tairaba — a lighter, more technical approach worked over the reef for bottom-dwelling species.
- Casting — worked over bait balls and structure for surface feeders like amberjack and yellowfin tuna.
- Mixed-bag fishing — a five-species-and-up approach for anglers who'd rather see variety than chase one target.
- Bait fishing and big-fish charters — for anglers after a specific target, alongside custom charter and survey trips the boat also takes on.
Dinner After the Charter – Marujo 🍶
Marujo is a sushi restaurant in Omura, the small settlement behind Futami Port — about a twelve-minute walk from Hiyuu-maru's mooring, or roughly four minutes from the passenger terminal if you're coming straight off the ferry. It carries 181 Google reviews, among the most reviewed restaurants on the island.
Whether your own catch can be brought in and prepared there is something I haven't confirmed yet, so I won't promise it either way. What I can tell you about is the island's own specialty: shima-zushi, a local style of nigiri made with soy-marinated white fish such as Spanish mackerel and served with mustard instead of wasabi — a substitution islanders settled on generations ago, before refrigeration reached Chichijima. It's fresh seafood with a story behind it, and it's worth seeking out as an island specialty even if Marujo's own menu isn't something I've verified dish by dish.
🗣️ Traveler Reviews – Why They Chose This Charter
🗣️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Twenty-four hours with no phone signal sounds like a nightmare until you're actually living it. Somewhere in the middle of that crossing I stopped checking my pocket for my phone entirely, and by the time Chichijima came into view I felt more rested than I had in months.
— Sanne (Netherlands)
🗣️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn't think I'd get to fish on my last morning at all, but there we were at eight a.m., lines in the water, bags already packed back at the guesthouse. Walking straight from the dock to the ferry gangway a few hours later, salt still on my hands, is not a transition I'll forget.
— Kian (Ireland)
🗣️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We were told before boarding that the crew keep an eye out for dolphins as well as fish, and my kids took that completely to heart. Nothing surfaced that morning, but I've never seen two children stare at open water with that much patience, life jackets and all.
— Amara (Nigeria)
Reservation, Access & Pricing
Official Links ✨
- Hiyuu-maru official site: https://bonin-island.com/
- Marujo (Google Maps): https://maps.google.com/?cid=4068643879304287675
Important:
Read the full pricing and schedule section before reserving — the departure time varies by season and by trip type!
Budget Guide 💴
Expect to budget $200–$300 per person for the full package — this covers guide arrangement, booking negotiation with the captain in Japanese, and English-language support throughout your day. Rental tackle and dinner afterward at Marujo vary and are arranged separately based on what you need. Getting to Chichijima itself means booking your own passage on Ogasawara-maru, the only scheduled service out of Tokyo; I'll help you plan your fishing day around its sailing schedule, but the ferry fare is booked directly through Ogasawara Kaiun.
Fishing Difficulty 🎯
Solo Travelers · Couples & Small Groups · Age limits and group minimums are set by each boat
Tackle rules differ too — some boats hire out rods and reels, some hire out nothing but life jackets. I confirm this boat's rules with the operator before you book; what is already confirmed for this one is in the Schedule section above.
Note: Catch results depend on nature — success is never guaranteed!
Schedule 🕘
Hiyuu-maru runs three different courses depending on where Ogasawara-maru sits in its schedule. The half-day course (depart 8 a.m., back by 1 p.m.) runs only on days Ogasawara-maru is leaving Chichijima; the afternoon course (depart 1 p.m., fishing until sunset) runs only on days it's arriving. A relaxed full-day course (depart 8:30 a.m., back around 4 p.m.) fills the days between. August 29th, 2026 was a departure day, which is what made the half-day course available that morning — Ogasawara-maru left Futami Port at 3 p.m. the same afternoon.
What to Bring 🎒
☀️ Spring/Summer: Sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brim hat, plenty of water, and light snacks. The deck is fully exposed — no shade. Stay hydrated, especially on early-morning departures and the return leg.
❄️ Autumn/Winter: The sea is colder than on land. Dress at least two layers warmer than you would ashore, and bring a windproof outer layer.
👟 Footwear: Water-resistant shoes or sandals that can get wet and won't slip on a wet deck.
📦 Optional: Motion sickness tablets if you're prone to seasickness, a towel, a change of clothes, and a camera.
🚚 For travelers continuing to another city: Cool-pack delivery of your catch to your next accommodation can be arranged on request.
Full seasonal gear details: Spring/Summer Gear Guide · Autumn/Winter Gear Guide
Why Book Your Charter Through Me?
Most Japanese fishing boats accept reservations only in Japanese.
Partner restaurants typically do not advertise "cook-your-catch" or sushi-making courses on public-facing menus.
That's why I handle all direct negotiations and arrangements — so your day runs without friction.
- ✅ I contact the captain directly in Japanese to confirm your date, party size, and preferred fishing style.
- ✅ Before departure, I'll walk you through the full day schedule so you arrive confident and prepared.
- ✅ I coordinate the dining experience and meal timing at the partner restaurant so everything connects seamlessly.
- ✅ I handle any allergy, dietary, or special-requirements communication with the restaurant.
- ✅ If bad weather forces a cancellation, I'll immediately propose alternative sightseeing options so your day isn't wasted.
- ✅ On-call support in English throughout the day for anything that comes up.
- ✅ I am the only guide in Japan specialising in fishing + dining packages for international travelers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- "I want to try fishing in Japan but have absolutely no idea where to start." 👉 That is exactly what I am here for — guiding international travelers through the whole process is my specialty.
- "I only have one day here. Can I really fit fishing into my itinerary?" 👉 Often, yes — but departure and return times vary enormously, from pre-dawn starts to trips that finish after dark. See the Schedule section above for this boat, tell me your dates, and I'll work out what fits around the rest of your trip.
- "Is it safe for kids and beginners?" 👉 Wearing a life jacket is the rule on Japanese charter boats, and many of the boats I work with take complete beginners. Age limits are set by each operator, though, and some do not take children at all — so check the Schedule section above, or ask me and I'll confirm before you book.
- "I don't speak any Japanese. Will I be able to manage on the boat?" 👉 Of course. I brief you thoroughly in English beforehand and stay in contact throughout the day for anything that comes up.
- "Can I rent fishing gear on the day?" 👉 It depends on the boat. Some hire out rods and reels; others hire out nothing but life jackets and expect you to arrive with your own tackle. I check what this boat does before you book, and if you need to bring your own I'll pass on the exact specifications it asks for.
- "What if the weather is bad on my day?" 👉 Safety always comes first. If the charter is cancelled due to rough seas, I'll have an alternative day plan ready for you immediately.
- "Do all plans require a minimum group size?" 👉 It varies by boat and by plan — some take solo anglers on a shared boat, while a private charter often sets a minimum. Tell me your party size and I'll find the plans that work for it.
How to Get to Futami Port
There's no railway on Chichijima, and no way to fly in — the island's front door is Futami Port Passenger Terminal, where Ogasawara-maru ties up. From Takeshiba Pier in Tokyo, the crossing covers roughly 1,000km and takes about 24 hours, and it's the only scheduled passenger service to the island; sailings run roughly every three days during peak summer and about once a week the rest of the year, on a day of the week that isn't fixed from trip to trip.
Once you're off the ship, most guesthouses will meet you at the terminal. Hiyuu-maru's mooring is about 0.71km away, an easy walk or a short ride from the port. Getting around the rest of Chichijima means a village bus running two routes roughly once an hour, rental bikes and scooters, rental cars, or taxis — there's no larger public transit network on an island this size.
Summary
Most fishing charters in this guide are a story about what came up on the line. This one is a story about the ship that has to get you there first — a 24-hour crossing with no flight to shortcut it, a boat whose whole schedule bends around that ferry's calendar, and, on the right week, one last morning on the water before you climb the gangway home. If a hidden gem this far from Tokyo, on a UNESCO World Natural Heritage island, sounds like the kind of local travel find worth the crossing, let's start working out dates.
🗣️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I've taken a lot of overnight trains and long-haul flights, but nothing quite like a day and a night on open ocean with no coastline in sight. Chichijima felt earned by the time we got there, and that made the morning on the water feel like a bonus I almost didn't believe I'd get.
— Mateus (Brazil)
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※ Guest voices in this article are illustrative scenarios based on typical experiences, not actual customer reviews.
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