The Remote Japanese Village That Lives Inside an Active Volcano

In the Philippine Sea, about 350 kilometers south of Tokyo, the small Japanese island of Aogashima stands as one of the most unusual inhabited places on Earth. This tiny community is built inside the caldera of an active volcano.

Aogashima is part of the Izu Islands, an archipelago formed by volcanic activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The island itself is essentially a large volcanic crater with a smaller cone rising from its center, known as Maruyama. The result is a rare “volcano within a volcano” landscape.

Despite the geological risks, around 170 residents live on Aogashima year-round. The village operates as the Aogashima Village municipality and relies heavily on fishing, small-scale agriculture, and government employment. Because of its isolation, supplies arrive only by helicopter or by boat when weather conditions allow.

The island’s volcanic activity still shapes daily life. Steam vents around Maruyama release geothermal heat that locals use for cooking and traditional saunas. The soil is fertile, supporting crops despite the island’s rugged terrain.

Living on Aogashima requires resilience. The island has experienced major eruptions in the past, including the catastrophic Aogashima Eruption of 1785, which forced the entire population to evacuate for decades. Residents eventually returned and rebuilt the settlement within the caldera.

Today, Aogashima remains one of Japan’s most remote communities—isolated, resilient, and uniquely shaped by the volcano beneath it. For those who live there, the dramatic landscape is not just a geological curiosity; it is simply home.

Resources

• Magazine, Smithsonian, and Jennifer Nalewicki. “The Sleepy Japanese Town Built inside an Active Volcano.” Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2016, www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/japanese-town-aogashima-active-volcano-180959153/. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
• Wikipedia Contributors. “Aogashima.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Feb. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aogashima. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.