Conquering the most difficult island in eastern Japan: Aogashima. How to book and ride a helicopter in Japan.

I happened to talk to someone who couldn’t get on the helicopter because it was fully booked, and I learned a lot.

On the day I went, the cancellation rate for Aogashima was over 50%.

Everyone wants to ride in a helicopter at least once in their life.

I took a helicopter ride when I went to Aogashima Island to do research for a manga about the island.

There is also a helicopter route to Suwanose Island in Kagoshima’s Tokara Islands, but competition for seats is low there.

Therefore, I will write about my experience on the highly competitive Aogashima helicopter route.

Reserving and purchasing boarding passes

東京愛らんどシャトル公式(Tokyo Airando Shuttle Official WEBSITE) LINK

Advance reservations are only accepted by phone during certain hours, and tend to fill up quickly.

This company accepts phone calls between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Reservations can be made starting one month before the boarding date.

Even if you don’t speak Japanese, as long as you can make a phone call, you can use a translation app to communicate slowly.

It can be difficult to get through on the phone. For people who are at work, it can be difficult to leave the office for nearly 30 minutes to make a phone reservation. For those living overseas, the time difference can be a challenge.

There are preferential measures for the people of Aogashima.

It says in Japanese, “Priority reservations for Aogashima villagers have begun.”

Incidentally, notices like this usually include the date they were published. However, this notice did not include that information. On islands in Japan and Taiwan, notices with no date on them are sometimes left posted, even though they are from last year, so it is important to take a stance of obtaining the latest information.

What happened when I actually made the call

I decided that the best time to call at 9:00 a.m. would be around 8:59:53 a.m., so I made the call.
However, the line was busy the entire time. The automated voice message at this time is in Japanese only. If you do not understand Japanese, you may be confused, but the call is often automatically disconnected, so if it disconnects, please try calling again. However, I estimate that it takes about 7 minutes to handle one customer, so I think it would be pointless to call again until 9:07 a.m.

The total number of calls made was approximately 20.

The call connected at 9:37, but it was already clear that we were number 8 on the waiting list.

Even though we were on the waiting list, the call lasted about 9 minutes. The time required to provide information to each customer may be long, but this is due to the polite manner in which they respond.

If your telephone reservation is successful

Congratulations. There is information about payment by credit card.

Please read this company’s webpage in advance. It explains payment methods and payment deadlines.

It may be necessary to try it out to see if credit cards from outside Japan can be used.

At that time, you should also check alternative methods in case overseas credit cards cannot be used.

In 2025, I was unable to use my Japanese credit card in a port town in Taiwan. It was a VISA card.

If you are placed on a waiting list

In the event of a cancellation, the person who made the reservation will be contacted by phone by 4:00 p.m. two days prior to the desired boarding date.

I was in Japan at the time, so I borrowed a mobile phone from a Japanese relative to make the call.

I believe you will be contacted even if you are calling from overseas, but please confirm just to be sure.

This is how we actually communicated when the cancellation was moved up.

I was scheduled to board on Monday, so I received a phone call on the morning of the final waiting day.

I was asked to confirm whether I would be boarding on that day, and I answered “yes” or “no.”

I chose the “yes” answer.

In my case, I chose to pay by credit card within 24 hours. It seems that other payment methods are also available.

What if the cancellation is not carried forward?

We haven’t heard anything from them.

However, just because we haven’t heard anything doesn’t mean we should give up.

When I went to Aogashima in May 2025, there were people waiting for cancellations who were behind me in line.

But since nine people, including myself, had already indicated their intention to take the helicopter, they didn’t receive any notification.

However, in the end, some people don’t pay.

This time, 5 people didn’t pay or didn’t show up at the airport on the day.
5 people!
Out of a nine-person helicopter, five people canceled at the last minute. A cancellation rate of over 50%!!

There were only four passengers, including myself, on the helicopter bound for Aogashima. A photo showing five empty seats.

If you haven’t made a reservation, be sure to check for available seats on the day of your visit!

They assumed that the helicopter was full and did not check the webpage.

As a result, they took a ferry from the port to Aogashima.

About the day of the helicopter ride

At Hachijojima Airport, we go to this desk tucked away in the corner. There were no staff members there, but they appeared while I was waiting.

・If you have a reservation → Provide your name.
・If you are informing us of your intention to board for the first time → If the flight is not full, the procedure will begin immediately. If the flight is full, you will be placed on a waiting list.

If you are on the waiting list, get this number ticket first when you arrive here.

It says “空席待ち整理券” in Japanese. This is a number ticket for cancellations. Please take one ticket at a time, starting with the smallest number.

On the day I went, the cancellation rate was over 50%, so the number ticket for the first cancellation was placed here.

Staff begin verbal confirmation

For languages other than Japanese, it is better to use a translation app. People with hearing impairments can communicate in writing!
The items I checked were as follows.

1) Name
2) Presentation of proof of eligibility for discount (applicable passengers only)
3) Total weight (kg) of current body weight plus clothing and shoes
4) All luggage will be weighed, so you will be instructed to place your luggage on the weighing scale.
5) Up to 5 kg is free of charge. Excess weight will be charged per 1 kg.
6) You will be given your boarding pass and luggage ticket.
7) You will be asked to read the instruction manual (simplified version) as the seat belts are special.
8) Information on the start time of baggage inspection. The estimated time is when the line of ANA passengers bound for Haneda Airport has finished.

Toho Airlines treated people with disabilities kindly.

On that day, I had nothing to worry about except my eyes. I was allowed to wear sunglasses and a hoodie. I looked like a guy dressed all in black.

Police officers from Hachijojima were waiting at the airport, but they didn’t question me.

I was questioned in Hiroshima.