The islands of Toshima Village are the exposed peaks of stratovolcanos rising from the ocean floor, and most are volcanically active.

During the Edo period, the islands came under the control of the Shimazu clan of Satsuma Domain.

At that time, the ten islands included Iōjima (硫黄島), Kuroshima (黒島), Takeshima (竹島), Kuchinoshima (口之島), Nakanoshima (中之島), Tairajima (平島), Suwanosejima (諏訪之瀬島), Akusekijima (悪石島), Kodakarajima (小宝島) and Takarajima (宝島).

However, the three northern inhabited islands in the archipelago, known as the Kamimishima (上三島): Iōjima, Kuroshima and Takeshima, remained under the control of Japan, and were placed under the administration of the village of Mishima.

The remaining Tokara Islands reverted to Japan on 10 February 1952 and are now administered as the village of Toshima.