Izu Hanto
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The Izu Peninsula (Izu Hanto) is located about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo in Shizuoka Prefecture. It’s home to amazing hot springs (onsen), beautiful beaches, and gorgeous hiking trails. As it’s relatively close to Tokyo, Japanese and foreign tourists can easily reach Izu for a relaxing weekend escape.
Places of Interest
Kawazuzakura Matsuri: The Kawazuzakura Matsuri (Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival) is held every year from the second week of February until the second week of March in Kawazu-cho. The sakura in Kawazu are a special type that bloom earlier than the typical sakura you see throughout Japan; they’re called kawazuzakura. The annual Kawazuzakura Matsuri celebrates the blossoming of these flowers. There are tons of sakura-inspired foods and sweets, as well as gorgeous places to walk around and gaze at the pretty pink flowers. Read more about the festival here.
Mount Omuro: Mount Omuro is a nationally recognized dormant volcano with a huge crater at the top. It has a skii lift to the top of the crater, which costs 500 JPY per person. It is absolutely beautiful on a clear day, as you can appreciate the Pacific Ocean and iconic Mount Fuji atop Mount Omuro.
Izu Shaboten Zoo: The Izu Shaboten Zoo (Izu Cactus Zoo) is a mix of an eclectic zoo and a cactus park on the Izu Peninsula. It’s a pretty interesting place with some cute animals and epic plants. In the winter, you can watch the capybara take a bath in an onsen. Read more about Izu Shaboten Zoo here.
Nirayama Hansharo: Built in 1857, the furnace now represents the start of modern iron production in Japan. In 2015, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The furnace is cool, but I made reservations at the place next to Nirayama Hansharo to go tea picking. The highlight was wearing a traditional tea-picking outfit. Tea picking has seasons, so check prior to planning. To get there, take the Shuzenji Line and alight at Izu-Nagaoka Station. Then, take a five-minute taxi ride or walk 30 minutes. More information on tea picking in Izunokuni here.
Atami: Atami is a beautiful seaside city at the top of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. It’s set on volcanic hills within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Atami is a popular resort area due to its numerous natural hot springs (onsens).
Travel tip: At the Tokai Bus ticket center outside of Ito Station, you can purchase all-day sightseeing bus passes, as well as tickets for peninsula places of interest. An all-day pass is 1,300 JPY.
Food
Sakura taiyaki: One of the best taiyaki I’ve ever had while in Japan. The pink sakura pancake outside was almost like mochi with its chewy, springy texture while the anko (red bean) paste burst with sweet flavor. You have to try it while at the Kawazuzakura Matsuri!
Heiwa Market Manju: Located near Atami Station, the market is full of fishcakes, dried squid, and locally caught seafood. You will also find many vendors selling freshly steamed anko manju with little onsen-signs stamped on them. There are primarily older women selling these things everywhere for about 100 JPY, and you should definitely try at least one.
Red Cactus Ice Cream: This pretty pink ice cream is found at the Izu Shaboten Zoo near the park’s gift shop. It almost tastes like hibiscus and strawberry, and is very tasty. There are other flavors if it doesn’t sound like your thing, but this is the only place in Japan that I’ve seen this flavor.
Izuchu Banban Shokudo:On the third floor of Atami Station’s mall and dining complex is a great restaurant that serves fresh seafood. They’re pretty inexpensive for the quality and quantity of the food, with a bowl of sashimi over rice only costing about 1,100 JPY (~$10 USD). They’re sashimi platter is delicious and features melt-in-your-mouth fish.
Transportation & Accommodation
Getting in and around Izu can be a bit daunting without a car. However, the Shuzenji Train Line is an easy way to get to the top-central part of the peninsula. You can catch the train down the eastern side, too. The western area where Matsuzaki and Dogashima Caves are located is more difficult to reach, and buses are infrequent.
Staying in the bigger towns—Atami, Ito, and Shimoda (click for links)—along the peninsula’s eastern coast would be your best bet for more affordable accommodation. The western side is difficult to access without a car, as bus is the only form of public transportation.