Short answer
The Chofu to Niijima flight is a short island-air route with a different personality from Oshima. UMISORA says Niijima is about 40 minutes by plane and is one of Japan’s leading surfing islands. New Central Airservice operates the Chofu-Niijima route with small Dornier 228 aircraft. The route is appealing, but it is not a casual heavy-baggage trip: check the timetable, fare, 5 kg baggage rule, surfboard and large-item handling, airport access, and same-day operation status before booking.
Last checked: August 21, 2026. Flight schedules, fares, aircraft assignment, check-in rules, baggage rules, special-item acceptance, airport access, bus timing, taxi availability, airport facilities, weather decisions, and same-day operation status can change. Always confirm current details on New Central Airservice and official island-access pages before travel.
Why this route has a Niijima feel
Niijima is close enough for a compact flight, but it feels more specialized than a simple airport hop. UMISORA describes Niijima as a leading surfing island and also notes its koga-stone buildings and moyai statues. The aircraft gets you there quickly, but the island plan still needs care after landing.
That is the key difference from treating the flight as only a ride. A good Chofu-Niijima plan asks what you will do with luggage, how you will leave the airport, whether your beach or port plan matches local transport, and what your backup is if weather changes the air or sea branch.
Chofu side
New Central Airservice’s airport guide lists Chofu Airfield at Nishimachi 290-3, Chofu City, Tokyo 182-0032, with the Chofu counter phone number 0422-31-4191. It says Chofu Station north exit is about 15 minutes away by Odakyu Bus, and taxi access from Chofu Station north exit or Musashisakai Station south exit is also about 15 minutes.
Because check-in is tight on a small route, do not arrive as if this were only a bus stop. New Central Airservice says check-in is from 60 minutes before departure to 30 minutes before departure, and that procedures should be completed 30 minutes before departure.
Niijima side
New Central Airservice lists Niijima Airport at Kawahara, Niijima Village, Tokyo 100-0400, with the Niijima Airport phone number 04992-5-0180. UMISORA’s Niijima Airport page lists the same phone number and says landings facing west and takeoffs facing east offer views of the Habushiura coast. It also lists terminal refreshment and souvenir functions.
Airport-to-town movement is manageable but should not be improvised. New Central Airservice says Niijima Airport to the Honson central area is about 20 minutes on foot, about 1.5 km, and that Niijima Port / Kurone Port passenger waiting area is about 8 minutes by taxi. The same page warns that island airports do not have waiting taxis and buses are limited, so check bus times or prearrange a taxi.
Aircraft and route scale
New Central Airservice says it uses the Dornier 228 type. Its aircraft page identifies the Dornier 228-212, lists crew 2 and passengers 19, and describes the type as suited to short runways and island routes. It also warns that performance values vary with passengers, cargo weight, and weather.
UMISORA says Niijima is about 40 minutes by plane. That short flight time is part of the attraction, but it also means your planning friction sits outside the air time: getting to Chofu, check-in, baggage acceptance, Niijima Airport pickup, and backup transport.
Baggage and surfboard caution
Pack with the aircraft, not the beach fantasy, in mind. New Central Airservice says free baggage is 5 kg per passenger, including carry-on and checked baggage. At the time checked, the Chofu-Niijima excess-baggage rate was listed as 300 yen per kg, but excess baggage may cost extra and may not be accepted in some cases.
This matters especially for Niijima. The baggage page and user guide both warn that large or special items such as surfboards, fishing rods, cooler boxes, and bicycles in rinko bags may be impossible to accept depending on size and weight, and should be confirmed by phone before reservation. If your trip is built around surfing or gear, solve that before buying the flight.
Booking and fare
New Central Airservice’s timetable and fare page has a Chofu-Niijima section with monthly timetable links and online reservation access. At the time checked, the regular fare display showed 16,600 yen for an adult one-way ticket, 11,600 yen for a child one-way ticket, and 30,200 yen for an adult round trip. Treat those as checked fare facts, not permanent prices.
The user guide says online reservations are accepted 24 hours and that same-day online reservations are possible until three hours before departure. It lists phone reservation counters including Chofu 0422-31-4191 and Niijima Airport 04992-5-0180. If you have large gear, use the phone-confirmation route before depending on online booking alone.
Status and backup planning
UMISORA’s Niijima operation-status page says its information is as of the listed update time and should be refreshed before viewing. The checked page included New Central Airservice Chofu Airport to Niijima flights and Niijima to Chofu flights, and says conditional or other-information status should be checked on the operator website.
Niijima also has sea access. UMISORA lists Maehama (Kurone/Niijima) Port, Tobune/Wakago Port, and Niijima Airport as access points, and says the island is about 2 hours 30 minutes by high-speed boat. The best route may be air one way and sea another day, but that decision should follow official status, weather, and your luggage.
Quick planning table
| Question | Official check | Planning result |
|---|---|---|
| Is the route running today? | New Central Airservice and UMISORA status | Use current operation status, not an old timetable memory |
| Can I take this gear? | New Central Airservice baggage and phone confirmation | Confirm surfboards, rods, bicycles, cooler boxes, and heavy bags early |
| How early should I arrive? | New Central Airservice user guide | Check in between 60 and 30 minutes before departure |
| How do I leave Niijima Airport? | Airport guide, Fureai Bus, taxi, or rental-car source | Do not assume waiting taxis or frequent buses |
| Is sea travel better? | UMISORA and ship operator status | Compare air and sea if luggage or weather makes flying fragile |
Where to go next
Use this as the surf-island small-air branch of the Japan Transport Fan Travel Guide. For the mainland-airfield context, read the Chofu Aerodrome Area Guide. For the arrival-side airport plan, use the Niijima Airport Area Guide. For a nearby shorter island-air comparison, continue with the Chofu to Oshima Small Aircraft Guide.
Photo credit
Featured image: Niijima Airport Aerial photograph 2013 by Bruno Plus via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Made based on National Land Image Information (Color Aerial Photographs), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The image may be resized for site display. It is used in editorial transport-travel-guide context and does not imply current airport layout, current route operation, endorsement by the creator, MLIT, New Central Airservice, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Wikimedia, or island communities.
Sources
- New Central Airservice official homepage
- New Central Airservice official aircraft page
- New Central Airservice official timetable and fare page
- New Central Airservice official user guide
- New Central Airservice official baggage page
- New Central Airservice official airport guide and access page
- UMISORA Niijima Airport page
- UMISORA Niijima island page
- UMISORA Niijima operation-status page
- Tokyo Port Authority Chofu Airfield page
- Wikimedia Commons image file and CC BY 4.0 license record
Editorial disclosure: This is an independent planning guide. It is not affiliated with New Central Airservice, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Port Authority, MLIT, Wikimedia, the image creator, or island communities.
