How Do You Get Around Izu Oshima by Bus, Bike and Car?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who have arrived on Izu Oshima and need to move around the island without a plan that depends on taxis waving by. It covers buses, bicycles, rental cars, taxis and the things to bring, using the island's own tourism information.

We used the Oshima Tourism Association's pages on transport, food and specialty goods, and the island information site Oshima Navi. All pages were read on 2026-10-04. We name no rental shops, hotels or restaurants and left out phone numbers, because they change.

Buses

The tourism association says the island has route buses and sightseeing buses run by Oshima Bus. Five route lines link places around the island, and there are tickets that let you ride all day for one or two days. A sightseeing bus starts from the port where your ship arrives, visits the main sights and returns to the departure port. The association tells readers to ask the bus company for details, and we did not find a timetable or fares on the page we read.

The Oshima Navi site says the Mihara-yama line and the Rainbow line both serve the Mihara-yama Sancho-guchi stop, where the summit walks begin. A car park is there too.

Bicycles

The association lists several shops that rent bicycles and mountain bikes, and some motorbikes, near Motomachi, with approximate prices that you must confirm with each shop. One listing is not a normal rental, but a guided ride led by staff, so read the description. Oshima Navi calls the island a cyclist's paradise. It says the ring road is about 50 km around and has a height difference of 400 to 500 metres, and it recommends electric-assist bicycles for an easier ride.

Rental cars

The association says its member rental car companies offer safe, comfortable cars. If you plan to go fishing, say so when you book. Without that notice you may not be able to rent, and a car that smells of bait or has fishing gear brought in without notice may carry a cleaning fee.

Taxis

The page says there are no taxis cruising for fares and that most taxis wait at ports and the airport. It adds that taxis hardly operate at night. If you want to tour by taxi, call a company first. The page also shows sightseeing taxi courses with charter prices by the hour and approximate fares for set routes, but the table did not come through clearly, so we have not quoted any prices.

What to bring

Oshima Navi's preparation page gives practical advice:

• The island has no convenience stores, and supermarkets and shops close early, so pack what you need.
• The sun is strong, so bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Mosquitoes are common, and centipedes and caterpillars can bite.
• Bring regular medicine, because pharmacies are few.
• Bring an outer layer and rain gear. The wind comes straight off the sea and the weather changes. The area around the summit of Mt. Mihara is cool.
• Wear sneakers or trekking shoes for mountain and forest walks. Some hot spring facilities require swimwear.
• Bring cash and a mobile battery, because many shops prefer cash and signal is poor in places.

Local food and goods

The association's food page describes several local dishes without naming shops:

• Marinaded fish: seasonal fish such as medai and parrotfish soaked in a soy sauce marinade with green chilli. The page says each home and shop has its own taste, and that the same marinade is used for bekko sushi.
• Tokobushi: a shellfish like abalone, simmered or steamed with sake.
• Turban shell: grilled in its shell, which the page calls excellent.
• Spiny lobster: the island's lava rocks are a good home for it.

Its specialty page lists camellia oil, shochu made partly from ashitaba, natural sea salt, ashitaba greens, the strongly smelling dried fish called kusaya and a baked sweet made with local milk. The page says Oshima was once called "Holstein Island" for its dairy farming.

Hot springs

The association mentions an open-air bath near the port with views toward the Izu Peninsula and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji. The page says swimwear is required, the price is 300 yen for adults and hours are 13:00 to 19:00 with weather closures. A second hot spring facility opens early on days when the night ship arrives. We have not checked these hours today.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Bus fares and timetables.
• Prices of rental bicycles and cars.
• Whether the autumn fair and island events change bus services.

Related guides

• How to get to Izu Oshima by jet ferry, large ship and plane
• What is Izu Oshima, and how do you see Mt. Mihara and Ura-Sabaku?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Getting around the island (Oshima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (buses, bicycles, cars, taxis)
2. Gourmet (Oshima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (local food)
3. Specialty goods (Oshima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (specialty goods)
4. Play (Oshima Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (hot springs)
5. Island trip preparation points (Oshima Navi, in Japanese) — (what to bring)
6. Oshima Navi top page (in Japanese) — (cycling)
7. Mt. Mihara trekking (Oshima Navi, in Japanese) — (bus stop)