Izu Islands

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Map of Islands

The Izu Islands (伊豆諸島, Izu-shotō^?) are a group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from the Izu Peninsula of Honshū, Japan. Administratively, they form part of Tokyo. The largest is Izu Ō-shima, usually called simply Ō-shima.

Although traditionally referred to as the "Izu Seven," there are in fact more than a dozen islands and islets. Tokyo Metropolitan Government officially lists them as nine (North to South):

All nine lie within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Fishing by professionals and sportsmen is year-round, with the majority of boats docked on the Izu Peninsula.

Volcanic activity, including the release of harmful gases, forced the evacuation of Miyake-jima in 2000. In February 2005, residents were allowed to return permanently to the island but were required to carry gas masks in case of future volcanic emissions.

During the Edo period, Nii-jima, Miyake-jima, and Hachijō-jima served as places of exile for criminals.

The subtropical Ogasawara Islands, which are also administratively part of Tokyo, lie further to the south. They form a far-flung archipelago of over thirty (30) islands some 1,000 km due south of Tokyo.