Izu is a popular tourism spot amongst Japanese locals. We will have a look at what you can expect at Izu and give you my opinion on what its really like to visit Izu.
All about Izu
What is Izu?
Izu is a city or an area in Shizuoka prefecture, about 2-3 hours drive Southwest from Tokyo. Izu is an area covered mostly by mountains while also being surrounded by the ocean where you can enjoy both the beauty of the nature in-land and the beaches during the hot summer.
Izu is a popular tourist destination amongst Japanese nationals due to its ease of access from Tokyo, the largest city in Japan. Due to the nature of the location, Izu is visited the most during the Summer season.
When is the best time to visit Izu?
For Japanese nationals, Izu is recognized as a place to visit to escape the scorching heat during the summer. With waterfalls and beaches to cool off in, Spring – Summer season (April – Sep) is generally considered the best time to enjoy Izu. However, I strongly advise against visiting Izu during the “Golden Week” public holiday period in May to avoid the flock of people coming from Tokyo blocking traffic and over crowding tourism spots.
Best way to get around Izu
If you have a particular place you want to get to in the eastern part of Izu, you can use public transport like the train to get to Izu from Tokyo. It takes roughly 2 – 2.5 hours from Tokyo to Izu by train, and costs around \5,000 yen. There are buses available to get around once you are there but the bus time table is unfortunately very restrictive as there are only a few buses operating in Izu.
If you want to enjoy Izu to the full potential, I strongly advise you to grab yourself a car to get around. I myself rented a car in Tokyo to travel around Izu and do not regret it at all. It takes about 2 – 3 hrs to get from Tokyo to Izu by car with little to no traffic. If you get stuck in traffic, you can expect this to increase to about 4 – 5 hrs, so do all you can to avoid peak hours (8-10am on Saturdays, 5-8pm on Sundays and all time periods during public holidays) .
Driving along the coast with a fantastic view will sure to be a good experience. One thing to note though, is that there are so many tolls along the road if you follow the GPS on auto routing which could add up quickly on the toll charges. There is a toll way right at the coast lines in Izu which requires you to pay via cash (haven’t done this in decades) so be sure to bring some spare changes!
How long will I need?
1 night stay will be ideal to enjoy Izu. Travelling between places in Izu is deceivingly long as the roads are often windy one way roads in the mountains. Take some time to enjoy the scenery and activities without having to worry about the
Places to visit in Izu
Jogasaki Coast
Jogasaki Coast (城ヶ崎海岸) is a popular spot along the coast line in Izu. Either walk along the 9km hiking trail or drive straight to the suspension bridge and light house for a tremendous view. Check out the details in the post below.
Izu Shaboten Zoo
Izu Shaboten Zoo is located in the eastern part of Izu. This Zoo is very unique in that many animals are freely roaming around the venue, literally passing along side you as you take a look around the exotic spacing. This place easily takes the top 3 spot for me personally for animal cuteness. Capybara’s are the high light for this zoo – check out what you can experience at this venue via the post below.
Also check out my Instagram for the cutest animals at Shaboten Zoo!
Izu Granpal Amusement Park
Perfect for families with kids and lovely for couples at night. As the name of the venue suggests this place is full of activities during the day, while offering amazing lighting shows at night. Details on the Amusement Park can be checked out below.
Water falls
There are many water falls in Izu you can visit to cool down during the summer. Feeling the cold sprinkles and the cool breeze in the mountains is certainly an phenomenal experience. While there are many water falls in Izu, some of the famous and must-go water falls are summed up in the post below.
Shuzenji
Home to the oldest hot springs in Izu, take some time off from the modern era and walk along the old-style Shuzenji town. There is some deep history in this town which can be felt through visits to historical sites and temples. A light guide on how to enjoy Shuzenji can be found below.
More posts are coming on popular tourist spots within Japan! Be sure to follow my by twitter or Instagram so you do not miss out!