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Izu

A mountainous peninsula southwest of Tokyo with onsen towns, highland villa areas and a long coastline.

Character
The Izu Peninsula has well-known onsen towns, a busy east coast and quieter west and south coasts. Inland, the highlands of Izu-Kogen and Amagi-Kogen have villas, golf and forest trails, and the Amagi Mountains have waterfalls and wasabi fields. Many places can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo.
Why it stands out
The west and south coasts have lighter traffic than the east coast, and Shuzenji is quieter than Atami or Ito. Amagi-Kogen is a forest highland where wild deer are sometimes seen.
Getting there
Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Atami (40–50 minutes) or Mishima (45–60 minutes). The Odoriko limited express runs from Tokyo to Ito (about 100 minutes) and Izukyu-Shimoda (about 160 minutes). The Izuhakone Line from Mishima to Shuzenji takes about 35 minutes. From Osaka, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Atami or Mishima (about 4 hours to Izu-Kogen). A direct bus runs from Haneda Airport to Mishima Station.
Seasons
Kawazu cherry trees bloom for about a month from February. Amagi rhododendrons peak from mid-May to early June, and hydrangeas cover the hillsides in early summer. In autumn, Namesawa Valley near Joren Falls is a noted foliage spot. Winter is quieter, with mild temperatures.
Watch-outs
East coast roads often jam on weekends and holidays, and inland roads are steep and winding. JR passes do not fully cover the Izukyu Line and do not cover the Izuhakone Railway. Buses to Amagi-Kogen are few, and in winter they stop about 3 km short of the Mt. Amagi trailhead.
Neighbourhoods
Izu-Kogen: Highland resort and villa area south of central Ito, with small museums, Mount Omuro and ocean views. / Amagi-Kogen: Forest highland at about 900 m in Izu City, with a golf course and the trailhead for Mt. Amagi; about 45 minutes by car from Ito Station. / Shuzenji: Old onsen town in central Izu, with a temple, a bamboo forest path and Tokko-no-Yu.
Nearby
Mt. Amagi (Banzaburo-dake) / Joren Falls / Kawazu Seven Waterfalls / Kawazu Cherry Blossoms / Shuzenji Temple and Bamboo Forest Path / Jogasaki Coast / Sakura-no-Sato (Izu-Kogen) / Shimoda

Izu condotels and hotel condos for sale

A condotel (hotel condominium) is a hotel room you own outright, which the hotel rents to guests when you are not using it. These are the Izu buildings and resort clubs this site tracks, with their current asking prices.

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