Check in at Izu Oshima and the city of Kinosaki, it's definitely worth it!
Eastern Izu Day Trip Guide
1. Scenic Spot Features
🎈 Oshima
After the eruption of Oshima about 4,000 years ago, a gap was left in the center, and the top of the mountain, which resembles a matcha cake, is stunning. This is a location for the film "Your Name", and it's a great place to take photos.
- After climbing the mountain, you can buy a rice dumpling and eat it while walking. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the entire eastern Izu, and the view of the blue and green is breathtaking.
- Cable car tickets and opening hours: Adults 550 yen, children 250 yen. March - September 9:00 - 17:00, October - February 9:00 - 16:00. The cable car takes six minutes to reach the top, and there is a photo shoot on the way. You can purchase the photo for 1200 yen.
🎈 Cactus Zoo
Located opposite Oshima, it is a semi-open park where you can get close to small animals. Among them, capybaras are super popular.
- Tickets and opening hours: 2800 yen/adult, 90% off with Oshima ticket. Opening hours are 9:00 - 17:00.
- Featured performances: Animal behavior performances, monkeys, dogs, parrots, etc. will perform various interesting behaviors. Small animals show off their unique skills and cuteness, and visitors can also see fun performances of humans and animals. In winter, there is also a capybara winter hot spring performance. From late November to early April, capybaras will take a hot spring in an open-air hot spring pool. Some lunar festivals will also be arranged to take a hot spring with grapefruit and apple, which will become a winter feature.
🎈 Kinosaki Coast
The lava that flowed out of Oshima's eruption formed strangely shaped reefs.
- Route: There are two routes to get there, a walking route and a forest route. The forest route takes 15 minutes to reach, and the downhill return is more energy-saving.
- Scenery: The blue sea and sky along the coast are breathtaking. Admission is free, and it is recommended to visit for about 1 hour.
- Kadowaki Suspension Bridge: The suspension bridge is 48m long and 23m high. The sea is rough under your feet, and the view from the bridge is magnificent. It is very popular for photos.
🎈 Atami Castle
Atami Castle has 6 floors, the highest of which is the Tenshukaku, which is mainly used for sightseeing. Take the cable car to reach the top of Mt. Hakone, and from Atami Castle, you can have a 360-degree view of the entire coastal city. Atami Castle is also the best place to watch the Atami Sea Fireworks Festival.
- Tickets and cable car prices: Tickets 1100 yen, cable car one-way ticket 400 yen.
2. Transportation Route
From Tokyo, take the JR Shinkansen for about 45 minutes to Atami, then transfer to the "Ito Line" to "Izukogen Station". After getting off, purchase an Izu Kogen Station bus pass for 800 yen. Take bus 170/172 to Izukogen Cactus Zoo Station, and take the cable car up and down Oshima (only cash). Take bus 180 from the foot of Oshima to "Izumi Ocean Park Station", and walk 15 minutes to Kinosaki Coast.
3. Itinerary Suggestion
11:00 - 13:00: Visit Oshima in "Your Name".
13:10 - 14:40: Go to the Cactus Zoo to see the capybaras.
15:00 - 16:00: Check in at Kadowaki Suspension Bridge and Kinosaki Coast.
16:10: Return to Tokyo, arrive at 19:30.
4. Small Suggestions
1. Buy a pass for the Izu Kyuko Line (1/2/3day pass) at Ito Station, and a bus pass for one day at Izukogen Station to save money and time.
2. Show your bus pass when purchasing cable car tickets at Oshima to enjoy a discount.
3. Choose the forest route when returning from Kinosaki Coast, as there are more downhill slopes, which are more energy-saving.
4. Remember to avoid Google Maps when navigating, and directly locate the Kinosaki Coast parking lot for convenience and speed.