Aoshima Island and Devil's Washboard

Aoshima is a small island barely 1.5 km around, connected to the mainland by a low bridge. The real spectacle surrounds it: the Devil's Washboard, a series of concentric wave-cut rock formations that extend like rippled platforms into the sea, most impressive at low tide. The island itself is covered in dense subtropical vegetation — fan palms, Phoenix palms and bougainvillea — and feels remarkably tropical for mainland Japan. Aoshima Shrine sits at the island's centre, surrounded by this jungle canopy. Walk the full circumference of the island on a path at the base of the rocks for the best views of the washboard formations. The mainland beach is popular with surfers and swimmers in summer.