[2] The island has no airport, and access is normally by ferry to the city of Kagoshima on the mainland, seven hours away.

The island's attractions include hot springs, a lighthouse, an observatory and a museum of local history and folklore.

The northern end of the island is dominated by Otake (御岳, O-take),[3] an active volcano which last erupted in 1914.

With a height of 979 metres (3,212 ft) above sea level, the mountain is the exposed cone of an active stratovolcano arising from the ocean floor.

In early 1950, a small herd of wild horses in the south of the island were identified as a distinct breed, named the Tokara pony.