Shuzenji is a popular tourist destination in Izu prefecture Japan… But is it worth your time to visit? Here is my real experience as a Japanese local!
What is Shuzenji Onsen Town?
Shuzenji Onsen town (修善寺 温泉街 – “Shuzenji Onsen-gai”) is a popular tourist area in central Izu prefecture which is home to historic buildings and hot springs. Shuzenji itself is a temple, but the area around the temple is mostly grouped together and called Shuzenji as a whole.
There are several sites to visit and tour but generally this place is a Instagram photo-shoot galore where you enjoy the scenery, the atmosphere and the well aged historic buildings. There are many hot spring resorts around to relax and settle for a day if you want to take it slow.
Location and Access
Public Transport:
From the nearest train station “Shuzenji Station” (修善寺駅) take the bus to “Shuzenji Onsen” bus stop (修善寺温泉駅). Shuzenji area is a mere 5 minute walk from the bus stop.
By Car:
Simply input Shuzenji on your car navigation and you should be good to go. The entrance to the area is a very narrow one-way road through an old-school shopping street. Follow the signs to the nearest car park. Car park is not free, it should be around \500 yen to park for most of the day. There are several car parks in the area so there should not be a big problem trying to find parking spaces.
For a general guide on how to get to Izu prefecture in the first place, please see my seperate post below.
How long will I need in Shuzenji?
It will take around 1.5 – 2 hours to go through the walking course according to the Michelin Green guide Japan. The Shuzenji area is actually not that big – you can expect around 2 – 3 hours if you want to explore every nook and cranny of the area.
Exploring Shuzenji
Map of Shuzenji Onsen Town
This map is generally provided by the person at the car park, along with a friendly and brief explanation of the area (in Japanese).
Shuzenji Temple
The ancient temple that holds the name of Shuzenji itself. Founded by a Buddhist monk in the the year 807, the temple itself is nothing too fancy but the surrounding trees sets a nice photo spot especially during autumn when the leaves change colour. You can take a view of the ancient townscape from the entrance area of this temple as well which is one sight to behold.
Bamboo Grove
The short walk path surrounded by bamboo along side the nearby river. The actual walk path is about a 2 minute walk but the surrounding bamboos are beautiful and soothing. There is a large circular bench in the middle of the pathway where you can lie down, rest and take a fantastic photo of the bamboos closing in on the top.
Kaeda-Bashi Bridge
The famous Instagram photoshoot spot in Shuzenji. The thumbnail of this blog post is a photo from this bridge. The short bridge looks great in the photos as the tree leaves change colour according to the season.
Local shops and scenery
There are so many narrow streets and small old-fashioned shops to explore. The general atmosphere of the town will give you the vibes and lets you feel like you are walking along the streets of Japan back in the good old days. The river flowing throughout the town with the bright red bridges provides nice accent to the area as well. Truly a relaxation moment.
Overall experience
Overall Shuzenji is a great place to visit, especially for those who enjoy taking it slow and enjoy the old fashioned sceneries of the town. For those who are looking for more energetic and wow-factor experiences, perhaps you may feel this place to be a little on the boring side.
Be sure to check out my twitter/Instagram below for more photos taken from my trip to Shuzenji!