Travel Planning Resources
Getting to and around Izu
Transportation options
Getting to Izu is easy. Getting around Izu is more of a challenge.
Google Maps is the best way to plan your route using public transportation.
Trains
Rail travel is limited to 3 train lines:
- JR Ito Line (Atami-Ito)
- Izukyu Line (Ito-Shimoda)
- Izuhakone Testsudo Line (Mishima-Shuzenji)
The fastest & most convenient way to get to Izu is aboard the Odoriko Line, or the more luxurious Saphir Odoriko, both run by JR East.
You could also take the shinkansen to Atami or Mishima and use the local lines listed above to go down into the peninsula.
For the ultimate indulgent train experience, The Royal Express is indeed fit for royalty.
There are 5 stations between Atami and Ito . There are 16 stations between Ito and Shimoda.
Buses
Getting around Izu by public transportation can be done using Tokai Bus, which covers the whole peninsula.
Some destinations only see two or three buses per day. More popular destinations have buses every half hour. Again, Google Maps is the best way to plan your route.
Cars
Renting a car gives you the most freedom to visit the many beautiful, yet remote parts of the Izu Peninsula.
Nippon Rent a Car and Toyota Rent a Car are the big companies found near the bigger train stations.
Ferries
There are two ferry companies serving the Izu Peninsula. Tokai Kisen runs ferries between ports on the peninsula, the Izu Islands, and Tokyo. On the west coast, the Toi Ferry crosses the Surugua Bay between Shizuoka City and the port of Toi. On a clear day, views of Mt. Fuji from the bay are amazing.
Accommodations
Having been a popular tourist destination since ancient times, Izu has every type of accommodation you can imagine from luxury ryokan and hotels to humble and cozy minshuku and pensions (B&Bs) run by friendly locals.
We’ll be adding our own personal recommendations here, but for now, please refer to the local tourism sites below and Google Maps.
Here are a couple local websites with good accommodations sections:
Things to do and see
The Izu Peninsula has been known for its onsen (hot springs) for more than 1,000 years. A famous poet wrote about their curative powers as far back as the late 800s.
Today, Izu still draws tourists for its many onsen, but that’s not all. Here are some of the reasons people visit Izu:
- Its beautiful beaches
- The freshest seafood
- Marine activites (diving, surfing, kayaking, fishing)
- Bicycle and motorcycle drives.
- Tourist attractions like Shaboten Zoo, Granpal Park, Shimoda Aquarium, and endless museums
- Fun and unique festivals all year round
- Some of the best cherry blossom viewing in Japan
- Hiking trails with surrounding ocean views
- and much more!
Perhaps the best way to experience Izu for the first time is to hire a local guide at Jimmy’s Izu Tours. We’ll take you beyond the ell promoted attractions and connect you and your interests with the friendly people and hidden gems of Izu.
Most of the local tourism association sites list the main attractions of their areas. See the list of websites below.
Websites (Izu and Japan travel planning)
Here’s a list of local tourism sites for the cities and town in Izu. Most do not have English information, and often the translation programs they use produce some really strange language.
It’s best to copy and paste the URL into Google Translate
