I am sharing an itinerary from this year trip for Shizouka, Izu peninsula. Photos to be followed
Just a few things to note:
- Wifi 300k speed won't work in countryside of Japan.
- 4G isn't that bad but doesn't always guarantee connection as well.
- Car rental is always highly recommended for summer Japan but due to festive season in Japan,
- Please expect traffic jams especially in areas that is having celebration.
- I had read on an article that to travel to Irozaki, a couple took 3 hours for 1 way trip via public transport (6 hours for return trip from Yokohama) - https://lifetoreset.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/on-the-tip-of-izu-peninsula-izu-hanto-irozaki-shimoda/
- Japan is awfully hot and dry in summer. Always drink a lot of water and wear sunscreen or UV clothes to prevent sunburn (especially climbing mountain or beachside)
- Festive area is always crowded with people, if you want good spots for camera, always reach at least 1 hour in advance to secure spot.
- Bring/buy a picnic mat for chopping seats in open ground.
- Bring cash to Japan. Cash is king.
Atami
Atami Free Fireworks - located at Atami Sun Beach
Head over to Atami for Free fireworks (they have a fixed Schedule Here)
Atami Kinokumiya Shrine
Head to Atami Kinokumiya Shrine to see 2,000 year old giant camphor tree (peaceful area)
Other interesting places within Atami
Atami castle
Atami adult museum
Atami ropeway
Transportation from Tokyo to Atami
Take Tokaido main line – around 2hours or more to reach from Tokyo city depending on which station that you are boarding. Avoid Shinkansen if you are on budget as Shinkansen is more expensive and the travelling hour is only 1 hour difference
Ito
Mt. Omuro
Head to Mt. Omuro for car lift to 580m tall mountain – 500 yen
for return trip car lift. It provide very beautiful sightseeing but the day that we went up, we
can only see clouds. Recommend you to go to 2nd level mini restaurant. They have yummy
soba and katsudon.
Blue Marble
Rest at Blue Marble pension – Recommend if you have a car and don’t mind 1 duck and 1
chicken as landlady can’t speak English. Although the pension is located within hillside and
not along main road, they have a cosy resting place and yummy food.
Interesting museums and shops along Main road 109/135
Passed by interesting shops – Cainz home (Interesting hardware shop!) and Miro Casual
Wear (CHEAP clothes for summer!!!) on main road 109. Nearby interesting places include
Pet café, musical box museum.
Sakura no Sato
Passed by Sakura no Sato – A well known Sakura blooming area within Ito
Teddy Bear Museum
Went to Ito Teddy Bear Museum 伊豆テディベア・ミュージアム
1,080 yen person but if you bring discount coupon less 100 yen per person, then adult price will be 980 yen
1,080 yen person but if you bring discount coupon less 100 yen per person, then adult price will be 980 yen
Ito Shaboten Park
Went to Ito Shaboten Park 伊豆シャボテン公園グループ –
Managed to purchase discounted tickets from Blue Marble @1,900 yen instead of
2,300yen!!! (Ask the landlady before going off for the day)
Garlic house (Italian restuarant)
Went to a Italian restaurant recommended by the landlady called Garlic house
Namecard) but be warned that staff do not speak Japan. Food (pizza and pasta) is
superb yummy and fresh.
Kawazu
Nanadaru
Went to Seven Waterfall aka Nanadaru in Kawazu.
o Free parking at tourist centre area.
o 大 滝 (Oodaru) is not available for viewing due to the fact the waterfall is located
within a hotel and only hotel guests are able to view
Minami Izu
Sunflower field
There are some sunflower fields which you cannot miss if you are driving on route 136.
They are on full bloom during summer
Aloe Vera Outlet
Just 10 mins drive from Irozaki, you will be seeing an outlet that sell Aloe Vera products including ice cream.
Irozaki
Went to the southernmost cape of Izu peninsula - Irozaki (石廊崎 - +81 558-62- 0141)
o Free/paid parking from the habour (Just parked 10m further away from the paid area and you can save the
parking fee).
o Need to walk about 20-30mins to reach the lighthouse and the southernmost cape.
o Very beautiful view of the lighthouse and the cape
Dogashima
Seiryuu
Reached Seiryuu
Paid 108,600 yen (1,400SGD) for 2 nights stay for weekend for sea viewing room.
The service, food and lodging totally worth it.
The kaiseki (a style of traditional Japanese cuisine in which a series of very small, intricate dishes are prepared) are the top notch.
All onsen (private, indoor and outdoor) are sea viewing which guest will have good view of Elephant Island
No wonder that they are top 10 onsen ryokan on Izu peninsula.
Can be booked over booking.com (English website)
Dougashima Boat Cruise
Went to take a boat cruise of Senkanmon –
2,300 yen per person that travel all the way down to near Irozaki and will include Tensodo
(akin to Blue cave, Italy). Seeing a lot of formation of the rocks. Open front seats offered
better viewing but will be splashed by seawater. We only managed to take the back open
seats.
Dogashima geo site - Tensoudo and Zou jima
Went around Dogashima geo site and also trying to walk the land bridge to Elephant island
aka Zou jima 象島
Go here to check against this website for the land bridge to appear.
Once is it below 50cm, the land bridge will appear.
You can still cross without land bridge to be fully appearing but will be deeper into the sea.
Once is it below 50cm, the land bridge will appear.
You can still cross without land bridge to be fully appearing but will be deeper into the sea.
Toei
Toei gold mine
Went to Toei gold mine 土肥金山 but didn’t go into the
museum nor play with the gold as my brother said that he is not that interested in gold. LOL.
o 1,300yen for gold cave exploration, museum and gold shuffling experience
o 720yen for gold shuffling experience
o 860yen for gold cave exploration, museum. 780 yen if you print online coupon.
Izu shi
Shizenji
Went to Shuzenji temple and nearby shopping area. Had a mini bamboo forest
o Shuzenji had a good western restaurant call Shuzenji No
Yoshokuya in front of the tourism board but be warned that although they only start their evening slot at 6pm, the restaurant is already full by 6.15pm and they can only serve after the earlier batch of people start leaving. I waited from 6.15pm until 7.30pm before I can eat. Staff cannot speak English.
Yoshokuya in front of the tourism board but be warned that although they only start their evening slot at 6pm, the restaurant is already full by 6.15pm and they can only serve after the earlier batch of people start leaving. I waited from 6.15pm until 7.30pm before I can eat. Staff cannot speak English.
Mishima
Shirataki Park
Interesting find @ Shirataki Park aka 白滝公園 (natural river with water flowing from Mt. Fuji) as they have hydraulic display in conjunction of Summer Festival (Natsu matsuri)
Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival)
Enjoy Summer Festival @ Mishima Shrine for afternoon
Temple fair which will include food, games, drinks etc.
modern and traditional dance [Please refer to traditional rituals schedule here
Handheld firework display in the night
Horseback Archery event
Obon dancing (public are allowed to join for free)
Rakujyu Park
Covered Mishima Rakujyu Park aka 楽寿園 (www.city.mishima.shizuoka.jp) – 300 yen per person. They have parks, mini zoo and playing arcade inside
Numazu
Numazu Senbonhama park
Went to Numazu Senbonhama park to play with fireworks. Japan beaches are good for releasing fireworks at night during summer.
