Yankicha Island, Kurils, Japan

Tiny Yankicha island is the emergent tip of an extinct volcano, located in the Kuril islands of Japan. The steep-walled caldera is broken to the south and so is flooded by the sea. It forms a tranquil lagoon where harlequins and sea otters swim. The island is considered to be one of the most visually scenic of the Kuril islands.

A highlight of a visit to Yankicha island lagoon is the hydrothermal field with steaming fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs and boiling puddles. No other natural hot spring bath could have a more spectacular setting. The inner grassy slopes of the lagoon rise to the rocky rim where fulmars nest and the cliffs are covered with kittiwakes. This is also the nesting grounds for crested auklets, and common and thick-billed murres make their home in the ledges of the vertical cliffs.

Things to See & Do

* Zodiac expedition
* Hydrothermal field
* Hike the caldera wall
* Bird watching
* Marine life viewing

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Yen (JPY)
Language – Japanese
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus hours nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – 81

Port Location – Visitors to the Kuril Islands leave from the Port of Otaru, Hokkaido.

Travel Links – Otaru is accessible from Sapporo airport (30 mins) by train, ferry and bus.

New Chitose Airport in Sapporo offers international and inter-island flights. It is located to the south east of the city.