Trip to Izu - Part 3

The series on travels in Japan's Izu Peninsula, continue. Part one is HERE. Part two is HERE. 


In the afternoon, after enjoying Mount Omuro, we drove to the Jogasaki coast, parked the car east of Izu Kogen and changed to hiking boots. We would challenge part of the 12 kilometer hiking trail along the coast; a suspension bridge being our final destination near the trail's end. The hike turned out to be a Hitchcock remake of "The Birds" with various animals standing in for the black crows....

Upon reaching the trail head, a cat appeared. Then another, and another. Some meowed, hoping for food, while others followed us. It was really creepy.

The stalking cats....

If the stalking kitties weren't enough, the trail head also had another ominous sign:

スズミバチご注意 

[su zu mi ba chi - go chu ee]

[= Beware of hornets]

A sign warned hikers to be very quiet, as the hornets are sensitive to noise, and not to venture off the trail.

The interior of the trail...

Quiet steps were rewarded with coastal views like this:

We hiked this trail for approximately an hour and a half, before reaching a temple. We took a rest here, and I snapped a photo of this dragon lantern:

It was getting dark, and the map said we still had another 2 hours to reach our final destination. We made the decision to hike (via the road) back to our car and drive to the next stop -- a suspension bridge, at Kadowakizaki Point.

Entrance sign to the bridge:

View looking down from the bridge:

View from the opposite side of the suspension bridge:

On the far end of the bridge, a hiking trail continues along the coast. This trail is much easier to walk, as it is paved in many areas. The views are spectacular and a "must do" when in Izu.

The trail: 

Beautiful tree:

In addition to the scenic views, you can also find remains of an old cannon from the Edo period, some rest areas, a simple restaurant and a temple along the route. Hiking the Jogasaki coast in Izu should be on your itinerary if visiting the area.

Tomorrow, I'll share photos from the many beaches in Izu. See you then! ^_^



Jogasaki coastal hiking trail information is HERE. The full trail is 12 km long. 
Be aware there are few toilets and water fountains along this trail. Dress for windy conditions, carry water and some snacks. From the bridge, going North, the trail is easy and can be done in sneakers. If hiking south from the bridge, you will need proper hiking shoes as the trail is rocky in many areas. 

A fellow blogger completed part of the trail and took lots of photos. Please enjoy! (via Ekaya Solutions) 

Parking is available at Kadowakizaki Point Suspension bridge. Cost ¥500 for one day ($5). You can also catch a sightseeing boat a short walk from the parking area. (30 minute tours start at ¥1300). 

THIS SITE shows more photos and explains (in Japanese) about the hiking trail at Jogasaki. (via Ito Tourism)

This "Welcome to Izu" website offers lots of information about the area's tourist spots, nature trails and hot springs. 

Trip to Izu - Part 2

We'll continue to talk and highlight some areas in the Izu Peninsula, which is located in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. Part 1 is HERE. 


The morning of day two would be our final day to enjoy food at the hotel. For the rest of our stay, we opted for the "stay only - no meals" plan, in order to save money. Many resort hotels offer this kind of service in Japan; you can call ahead to check.

Buffet breakfast was served in the main dining room. I enjoyed lots of Japanese and Western dishes...

I love big breakfasts!! ^_^

Close up of soba (buckwheat noodles) -- these are famous in Nagano prefecture:

Assortment of mini dishes -- scrambled egg, seaweed, tofu with edamame and konyaku jelly (high in fiber, zero calories).

After breakfast, my travel partner and I hiked 30 minutes from the hotel to visit an extinct volcano.

Once arriving at our destination, there were large signs in both Japanese and English explaining how Izu was created thousands of years ago. Numerous volcanoes spewed lava from the ocean floor, initially creating islands. These islands eventually joined together, and via the Earth's plate movements, these lava-created islands were pushed northwest, finally connecting to the main island of Japan.

You can read more history in the photo below 
(click for details, and enhance using your PDF viewer): 

This extinct volcano is called: Mount Omuro. The official name on the sign below translates to: "Omuro Mountain Volcano". 

A sign nearby proclaimed Mount Omuro to be a national park:

The interesting feature of this volcano is that you don't have to hike up the mountain at all. You can ride a comfortable ski lift to the top for ¥500 per person (return trip included).

The chair lift:

Once at the top, I got a photo at the summit marker, which says Mount Omuro stands at 580 meters. The weather was cloudy due to a passing typhoon far off the coast of Japan; within an hour however, it became clear.

Cutenekko gives the thumbs up.....Omuro! (Japanese joke)

A walking path circles the crater of the volcano, allowing visitors to enjoy a 360 degree panorama of the area. On a clear day, you should be able to see Mount Fuji from this location. Despite the clouds on our climb, I still enjoyed the view very much.

View from the top, looking East to Sagami Bay (Pacific Ocean):

View of the extinct volcano's crater:

Archery targets can be seen in the crater

One interesting feature of Mount Omuro? You can practice archery in the crater! We saw targets set up on the crater's floor for people to enjoy shooting arrows. The cost was ¥1,000 ($10) per person.

This mountain is a great was to learn the history and development of the Izu Peninsula; I highly recommend stopping here should you visit the Izu area.  After Mount Omuro, we hiked lava cliffs snaking along the ocean to a suspension bridge. Check back again to read more. ^_^


*** Information ***

The Izu Peninsula is easy to access from Tokyo. By Tomei highway, travel takes approximately 2.5 hours. (Google Maps). By train, from Tokyo: take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Odawara or Atami. OR, take the Romance Car (Odakyu line) from Shinjuku Tokyo, to Odawara. For both trains, change to the Ito line, traveling south to Ito. Other trains operate between Ito and more southern points; however, trains are not frequent. Approximate cost: ¥5,500 one way ($55). 

WikiTravel page is HERE. Lonely Planet Guide's site on Izu is HERE. 

Mount Omuro is on Trip Advisor. Read reviews HERE. Directions to Mount Omuro: Take a bus from Ito station (35 minutes) or from Izu Kogen station (15 minutes). Buses are labeled clearly in English & Japanese. I'm sorry, I couldn't find the cost. The summit is typically windy and cold. Bring a sweater!

The Izu Dream pass allows you to travel on ferries, buses and trains in the Izu area for up to 3 days. Read more HERE. 

Trip to Izu - Part 1

The Izu Peninsula, created by volcanic activity over 4,000 years ago, juts out from the main island and is a part of Shizuoka prefecture (home of Mount Fuji). Izu is famed for its hot springs, fishing/ diving and beautiful, rugged scenery. I spent four days there, enjoying the baths, local beaches, hiking and fishing. Please enjoy the next few posts about this beautiful part of Japan.

All over Japan, one can find 道の駅 [mi-chi no eki = lit. translation is "road station"] in tourist areas. These are not actual train stations; instead, they are rest stops for drivers and tour buses. Michi no Eki houses restaurants, souvenir shops and some have interesting features. This one, called Marine Town, is located near the resort town of Ito and had an outdoor foot hot spring bath(!!), which was free to use.

Free foot bath:

On this day, a typhoon was passing offshore, so the bath was closed due to the weather.

A sign explained the condition of the water (temperatures between 38 ~ 42C) and how long one should rest their feet in the bath (15 ~ 20 minutes). I was disappointed I couldn't try out this service.

Marine Town had the look and feel of a New England fishing village. The marina was home to many sailboats and yachts; the wharf looked like a scene from Jaws (before the shark terrorizes everyone).

Marine Town's wharf, with shops and restaurants on the right:

 A typical tourist activity in this area is taking a sightseeing cruise. Cruises last about 30 minutes and travel along the shoreline; the cost is usually ¥1,800 per person ($18). We couldn't do this due to the high waves from the typhoon.

We finally arrived at our hotel for the next four days, Hotel Ambient. After a quick check in, we had reserved the hotel's French course dinner; the rest of our stay would be without meals. Chef Takahashi created the French cuisine for this hotel; I have never eaten anything as delicious. If you come to this hotel, do so just for the dinner!!

The dining room:

It reminded me of a Swiss ski resort....and we were the only two in the dining room. o_O

Appetizer -- katsuo fish and beef:

Potato and carrot cream soup:

Main dish -- grilled chicken:

Bonus plate -- foie gras! 

Dessert was interesting and I still haven't gotten the taste out of my mouth -- apple and pear sherbet with raspberry sauce: 

My friend and I both agreed -- that was the best dinner we had ever eaten. The hotel itself is a little old and dated, but the food? Something to experience; you won't be disappointed.

The following day, we hiked up a volcano and enjoyed 360 degree ocean views. Check back tomorrow to see pictures. ^_^


Information:
If you are driving Japan, a guide to the many 道の駅 [Road Station] can be found HERE. The one featured in this article is HERE. 

Hotel Ambient Izu Kogen is located outside of Ito city, in Izu. It features three unique types of rooms: regular hotel rooms, a "dog okay" hotel (separated from the main hotel) and cottages. On Trip Advisor, HERE. The hotel's main site is HERE. Regular fees are: 1 night, with 2 meals, from ¥10,000 ($100) per person. Price includes use of the hotel's natural, outdoor hot spring bath. 

Japan Guide's site on Izu is HERE, but a warning: their suggestions are very touristy. Expect high prices.