Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I would like to tell you about the charm of Izu Kogen, which I went on a motorcycle tour from Tokyo. Izu Kogen is a highland area in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy nature, hot springs, art museums, and more. I arrived at Izukogen on my beloved Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide, which took about three and a half hours from central Tokyo. This time, we will introduce the route and highlights.
Izu Kogen is a plateau area located in the southern part of Ito City with an altitude of 200 to 400 meters. It is a plateau created by the lava flow of Mt. Omuro located in the south, and extends 5 km from east to west and 10 km from north to south. Lake Ippeki is on the north side, and Jogasaki Beach is on the east end. Izu Kogen was developed as a vacation home area for cultural figures and artists from the early Showa era. As a result, there are still many art galleries and museums scattered throughout the area. There are also plenty of hot springs, and there are inns and day-trip hot spring facilities that use natural hot spring water. The nature is also attractive, and in addition to enjoying the scenery of the coast and mountains, there are also seasonal seasonal attractions such as flowers and fruits.
Route to Izu Kogen
I started from central Tokyo. First, take Shuto Expressway No. 9 Fukagawa Line and enter Shuto Expressway Wangan Route. This section runs along the coast, so if it’s a clear day, you’ll have a great view of Mt. Fuji and Rainbow Bridge.
From the Shuto Expressway Wangan Line, take Kanagawa Route 1 Yokohane Line and transfer to Kanagawa Route 2 Mitsuzawa Line at Kinko JCT. In this section, you can see buildings in Yokohama city and the Ferris wheel in the Minato Mirai area. From Kanagawa Route 2 Mitsuzawa Line, exit onto Yokohama Shindo and enter National Route 1. This section passes through the Shonan area, including Hiratsuka City and Chigasaki City. It runs along the coast, so you can see beaches and surfers.
Enter National Route 135 from National Route 1. This section passes through the Nishi-Izu area, including Odawara City and Manazuru Town. As it runs along the coast, you can see fishing ports and seafood shops. Enter Atami Beach Line from National Route 135.
This section passes through the Higashi-Izu area, including Atami City and Yugawara Town. The road is sandwiched between the mountains and the sea, so there are many curves and it’s fun. Return to National Route 135 from Atami Beach Line. This section passes through the Nakaizu area, including Usami Town and Ito City. Since it runs along the coast, you can see beaches and hot spring facilities. From National Route 135, take the road heading towards Izukogen Station.
This section takes you up to the high ground of Izu Kogen, so you can get a panoramic view of the ocean and mountains. We arrived at Izukogen Station. The tour took about 3 and a half hours, but we had fun while taking breaks along the way.
Highlights of Izu Kogen
Izu Kogen has many attractions where you can enjoy nature, hot springs, art museums, and more. I visited the following spots.
Omuroyama
Mt. Omuro is the symbol of Izu Kogen. Designated as a national natural monument, it is 580m above sea level and has a 70m deep crater in the center. I went to the top of the mountain while enjoying a 6-minute walk in the air on the Omuroyama lift. From the summit, you can see Mt. Fuji and the islands of the Izu Islands. Plants grow in the crater ruins, and colorful flowers bloom depending on the season. Mt. Omuro is a lava flow created by volcanic activity that cooled and solidified, and its shape resembles an overturned bowl. Lava flows affect the surrounding topography, creating landscapes such as the plateau of Izu Kogen and the Jogasaki coast.
Lake Ippeki is one of the eight scenic spots of Ito. This lake was created when a lava flow from Mt. Omuro dammed a river. The surface of the lake is blue and clear, and the surrounding area is surrounded by lush green forests. At Lake Ippeki, you can enjoy water activities such as boating and canoeing, as well as land activities such as walking trails and cycling roads. I took a boat ride around the lake. The view of Mt. Omuro and the forest seen from the lake was very beautiful. There are also restaurants and cafes along the lake where you can eat and take a break.
Jogasaki Coast is one of the eight scenic spots of Ito. This coastline is located at the eastern end of the Izu Highlands, and is home to a series of cliffs and strangely shaped rocks. At Jogasaki Coast, you can enjoy views of the ocean and rocky areas from promenades and observation decks, as well as visit lighthouses and museums. I walked along the promenade to the lighthouse. The view of the Pacific Ocean from the lighthouse was spectacular. There were also flower beds and sculptures along the promenade, giving it an artistic feel.
Izu Kogen motorcycle parking lot
Izu Kogen has an environment that is friendly to people who sightsee by bike. Each tourist spot has a dedicated parking lot for motorcycles, which can be used for free or at a low cost. I used the following motorcycle parking lot.
Omuroyama bike parking lot
This is a motorcycle parking lot near the entrance of Mt. Omuro lift. It is available for free. There is space for approximately 20 cars. It is a 1 minute walk to the lift station.
Ippekiko bike parking lot
This is a motorcycle parking lot on the south side of Lake Ippeki. It is available for free. There is space for approximately 30 cars. It is a 5 minute walk to the lakeside.
Jogasaki Kaigan Motorcycle Parking Lot
This is a motorcycle parking lot near the entrance to Jogasaki Beach. It is available for free. There is space for approximately 40 cars. It is a 1 minute walk to the promenade.
This time, I introduced the route and highlights of Izu Kogen, which I went on a motorcycle tour from Tokyo. Izu Kogen is a wonderful place where you can enjoy nature, hot springs, museums, and more. The roads are fun to ride on bikes as they have many curves, and there are parking lots for bikes at each tourist spot. Please go there on your holidays.
