The Izu Peninsula is one of the easiest escapes from Tokyo: about an hour by bullet train, yet it feels a world away. Fishing harbors, clear blue bays, Mt. Fuji floating over the sea, and old hot-spring towns tucked into the hills. We run guesthouses here, and this is the trip we recommend to friends visiting Japan for the first time.
The plan in short: base yourself in Numazu at the top of the peninsula. Day 1 is the harbor and Mt. Fuji, Day 2 is the bays of Uchiura, and Day 3 is Shuzenji before heading home. You can do it all by train and bus, but a rental car makes Day 2 much easier.
Getting there from Tokyo
- By train: take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa to Mishima (about 45 to 60 minutes), then change to the JR Tokaido Line for one stop to Numazu (about 5 minutes).
- By car: Numazu is on the Tomei Expressway. From central Tokyo, allow about 2 hours depending on traffic. Renting a car at Mishima Station is a popular option.
- From the airports: from Haneda, go to Shinagawa and take the Shinkansen. From Narita, allow extra time to reach Tokyo Station first.
DAY 1Numazu harbor, seafood and Mt. Fuji
Arrive by lunchtime and head straight to Numazu Port. The streets around the harbor are packed with small eateries serving seafood bowls (kaisendon) and sushi made with fish landed in Suruga Bay, Japan's deepest bay. Numazu is also famous for dried fish, especially horse mackerel; look for it at breakfast set menus and souvenir shops.
After lunch, visit the Numazu Port Deep Sea Aquarium, a small aquarium dedicated to the strange creatures of Suruga Bay's depths, known for its frozen coelacanth specimens. Then climb Byuo, the huge floodgate at the harbor entrance, which has an observation deck with views over the bay and, on a clear day, Mt. Fuji.
Finish the afternoon on Senbonhama, a pebble beach backed by a long pine forest. Sunset here is quiet and beautiful.
DAY 2Uchiura: an island aquarium and calm blue bays
South of central Numazu, the coast turns into a series of quiet coves: Enoura, Shizuura, Uchiura and Nishiura. The water here is famously clear, and Mt. Fuji rises above the bay on clear days.
- Awashima Marine Park: a small island in Uchiura Bay reached by a short boat ride, with an aquarium, marine shows and even a frog museum. Kids love it.
- Izu-Mito Sea Paradise: a seaside aquarium with dolphins and sea lions, right on the water in Mito.
- Beaches (summer): the beaches of western Numazu are known for clean water. Rarara Sun Beach was one of just 11 beaches in Japan named for especially good water quality by the Ministry of the Environment in 2025.
- On the water: the calm bays are ideal for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and marinas along the coast offer yacht and boat trips.
If you are a fan of the anime Love Live! Sunshine!!, this is its home turf. See our pilgrimage guide.
Getting around: local buses run from Numazu Station toward Uchiura and Mito, but they are infrequent. A car (or a taxi for short hops) saves a lot of time on this day.
DAY 3Shuzenji, the hot-spring town in the hills
On your last day, head inland to Shuzenji Onsen, one of the oldest hot-spring towns in Izu. From Mishima, the Izuhakone Railway takes you to Shuzenji Station in about 35 minutes, followed by a short bus ride into town.
- Shuzen-ji Temple: the temple that gave the town its name, traditionally said to have been founded in 807.
- Tokko-no-yu: a hot spring in the middle of the Katsura River, which legend says was the origin of the town's waters.
- Bamboo Forest Path (Chikurin-no-Komichi): a short, peaceful walk through bamboo along the river.
- Autumn leaves: from mid-November to early December the maples around the town turn bright red, and some spots are lit up in the evening.
Many ryokan in town offer day-use baths, so you can soak in the hot spring before heading back. Some limited express Odoriko trains run directly between Shuzenji and Tokyo, or you can return via Mishima on the Shinkansen.
With more time
- Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace in Izunokuni, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Izu Panorama Park, a ropeway to a hilltop terrace with wide views of Mt. Fuji.
- Joren Falls and the forests of Mt. Amagi in central Izu.
When to go
Every season works. Winter (December to February) brings the clearest views of Mt. Fuji. Summer is beach season. Autumn is the time for Shuzenji's red leaves. Spring brings cherry blossoms across the peninsula.
Two fully renovated traditional houses for up to 8 guests each, with a 100-inch theater, board games and a garden BBQ. Self check-in, so you arrive at your own pace. Book directly on our website for the best rate.