Nishinoshima is a volcanic island located around 940 km (584 mi) south-southeast of Tokyo that is part of the Volcano Islands arc. Nishinoshima is located about 130 km to the west of the nearest inhabited Ogasawara islands, Chichijima Island, hence the name; the other Ogasawara island groups are aligned more to the north–south. The nearest of the other Volcano Islands is over 270 km away, but Nishinoshima is on the alignment of the Volcano Islands.