Short answer
The Chofu to Oshima flight is a compact small-aircraft route for travelers who want a real island aviation experience without committing to a long remote-island plan. UMISORA describes Oshima as the closest island from Tokyo and says the trip is about 25 minutes by plane. New Central Airservice operates the Chofu-Oshima route with small Dornier 228 aircraft, but the useful mindset is simple: check the current timetable, book carefully, pack within 5 kg, and refresh same-day operation status.
Last checked: August 21, 2026. Flight schedules, fares, aircraft assignment, check-in rules, baggage rules, 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 Oshima is a good first island-air route
Oshima is close enough to Tokyo that the aircraft route feels almost compressed. UMISORA’s island page says Oshima is less than two hours from Tokyo by high-speed jet boat and 25 minutes by plane. That makes the Chofu flight a useful introduction to island aviation: short, focused, and still very different from a mainland train or jet route.
It also has fallback logic. Oshima is served by air and sea, and UMISORA lists Motomachi Port, Okata Port, and Tokyo Oshima Camellia Airport as key access points. That does not make same-day improvising risk-free, but it gives careful travelers more planning branches than a one-access island.
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 that taxi access from Chofu Station north exit or Musashisakai Station south exit is also about 15 minutes.
For transport fans, Chofu is part of the attraction. The route starts at a working regional airfield rather than a large airport terminal. Arrive early enough to enjoy the small-airfield feel without making check-in stressful.
Oshima side
New Central Airservice lists Oshima Airport, also Tokyo Oshima Camellia Airport, at Motomachi Kitanoyama 270, Oshima Town, Tokyo 100-0101, with the Oshima Airport phone number 04992-2-1651. UMISORA describes Oshima Camellia Airport as the air gateway to Oshima and says the terminal has restaurant and souvenir facilities on the second floor.
The local movement still needs a plan. New Central Airservice says the nearest bus stop, Oshima Airport Entrance, is about 10 minutes on foot. It also says taxi or bus from the airport to the Motomachi or Okata district is about 10 minutes, while warning that island airports do not have waiting taxis and bus frequency is limited. Check bus times or prearrange a taxi before you treat the flight as a simple city hop.
Aircraft and baggage
New Central Airservice says it uses the Dornier 228 type. Its aircraft page identifies the Dornier 228-212 and lists crew 2 and passengers 19. It also describes the aircraft as suited to short runways and island routes, while noting that performance varies with passengers, cargo weight, and weather.
Baggage is where many travelers feel the small-aircraft difference first. New Central Airservice says free baggage is 5 kg per passenger, including carry-on and checked baggage. At the time checked, the Chofu-Oshima excess-baggage rate was listed as 240 yen per kg, but excess baggage may cost extra and may not be accepted in some cases. Large items should be confirmed in advance.
Booking, fare, and check-in
New Central Airservice’s timetable and fare page has a Chofu-Oshima section with monthly timetable links and online reservation access. At the time checked, the regular fare display showed 13,800 yen for an adult one-way ticket, 9,700 yen for a child one-way ticket, and 25,100 yen for an adult round trip. Treat those as checked fare facts, not evergreen 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 Oshima Airport 04992-2-1651. The same guide says check-in is from 60 minutes before departure to 30 minutes before departure, and that procedures should be completed 30 minutes before departure.
Same-day status and weather
UMISORA’s Oshima operation-status page includes New Central Airservice flights between Chofu Airport and Tokyo Oshima Camellia Airport, and says users should refresh before viewing. New Central Airservice also provides same-day operation-status support during the day. This matters because a 25-minute flight can still be affected by weather, aircraft operation, loading, or island conditions.
A strong Oshima plan has three checks: official flight status before leaving Tokyo, local transport after landing, and a backup branch if the flight or ferry comparison changes. Do not stack a tight airport-to-port plan unless the current official sources support it.
Quick planning table
| Question | Official check | Planning result |
|---|---|---|
| Is the route running today? | New Central Airservice and UMISORA status | Use current operation status, not yesterday’s idea |
| Can I pack this bag? | New Central Airservice baggage page | Stay near 5 kg or confirm excess baggage in advance |
| How early should I arrive? | New Central Airservice user guide | Check in between 60 and 30 minutes before departure |
| How do I leave Oshima Airport? | Airport guide, Oshima bus, taxi, or rental car source | Do not assume waiting taxis or frequent buses |
| Is sea travel better today? | UMISORA and Tokai Kisen | Compare flight, jet boat, and ship timing if the day is flexible |
Where to go next
Use this as the compact island-air branch of the Japan Transport Fan Travel Guide. For the mainland airport context, read the Chofu Aerodrome Area Guide. For the arrival-side airport plan, use the Oshima Airport Area Guide. If you want a longer Chofu island-air comparison, continue with the Chofu to Miyakejima Small Aircraft Guide.
Photo credit
Featured image: Oshima airport aerial-photo by tdk on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. The image may be resized for site display. The image is used in editorial transport-travel-guide context and does not imply current airport layout, current route operation, endorsement by the creator, 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 Oshima Camellia Airport page
- UMISORA Izu Oshima island page
- UMISORA Oshima operation-status page
- Tokyo Port Authority Chofu Airfield page
- Wikimedia Commons image file and CC BY-SA 3.0 license record
Editorial disclosure: This is an independent planning guide. It is not affiliated with New Central Airservice, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo Port Authority, Wikimedia, the image creator, or island communities.
