Izu Peninsula Itinerary: Planning & Tips for the Perfect Izu Peninsula Road Trip

Izu Peninsula was our hidden gem experience during our 3 weeks in Japan. We initially found out about it from a fellow travel blogger and after seeing their stunning photos of the Koganezaki coast, we knew we had to go visit. However, there was only little information available about what to see in the Izu Peninsula and even less on how to figure out our itinerary. Fortunately for you, having now traveled extensively through the peninsula, and further combining our hours of research, we are excited to provide you with what we consider the perfect itinerary Izu Peninsula Itinerary. From the relaxing ryokans and onsens to the mesmerizing views of Mount Fuji off the Kumomi coast, our 5 day Izu Peninsula Road Trip experience there was unforgettable.

So buckle your seat belts and let’s jump right into this guide!

How many days in Izu Peninsula?

To properly explore the Izu Peninsula, we would suggest a minimum of 3 nights, however we feel 4 nights would be preferable. The true highlight of Izu is slowly driving through the coast, admiring the countless scenic spots, and then spending half the day enjoying the onsens and ryokans.

If you rush through, you will miss out on some of the sights or miss out on part of the ryokan experience. Although we spent 4 nights driving through the peninsula, we could’ve stayed even longer! It was so incredibly relaxing and every day was exciting! We appreciated this even more since we had just finished 5 days in Kyoto and wanted an escape from all the crowds!

Where to start and end your izu peninsula trip

The two main train stations around Izu that are serviced by the shinkansen are Mishima and Atami. Mishima is slightly more to the West and Atami is more to the East.

Either station can serve as your starting point. We ended up choosing Mishima since we were arriving from Kyoto and also it was easier for us to find our car rental. It is recommended to start and end your trip at the same station so that you can avoid being charged extra for your car rental.

Once you return to your starting point, you can then continue your trip by taking the Shinkansen.

East Side Vs. West Side of Izu Peninsula

The Eastern and Western parts of Izu Peninsula are very different from each other. As a quick summary, we preferred the Western side of Izu due to the stunning coastal views and more local feel. If you want the full breakdown, we have covered this in more detail in our post discussing the best things to do in Izu Peninsula. 

Do you need a car?

If you will be doing the full itinerary including the West and East parts of Izu Peninsula, then we would highly recommend renting a car. In fact, it would be almost impossible to do this trip without your own car.

The reason for this is that the public transportation service in the Western part of Izu Peninsula is very scarce and does not cover the entire region. There are so many beautiful points along the way and I cannot imagine having to repeatedly wait for a bus at every stop.

If you are only doing the Eastern part of the peninsula, then it is possible to visit without a car. You can reach Ito station on the JR line from Atami, however going further would require a combination of local train and buses.

So in summary, renting a car is almost a must and is also not expensive, costing 27,500 JPY for 5 days.

Hotel booking challenges in Izu Peninsula

When booking your hotels in Japan, and in particular in Izu, there are certain limitations that you need to be aware of.

Few hotels are available on booking platforms

First, many hotels in the Izu Peninsula are not available on booking platforms like Expedia, Agoda, or Booking.com. Around the main towns in the north of the peninsula, there will be more options, however, when you reach the south, most hotels are only available directly from their website.

Also, many of them will only have a Japanese name and website so it may not always be easy to research. 

Lack of English

Secondly, most of them do not speak English. During our 5 nights in Izu Peninsula, only at one hotel did we find a hotel staff that spoke English. We didn’t mind as it creates a more local and authentic experience but we wanted to point it out.

Some hotels don’t take foreign travelers

There are many hotels that do not take foreign travelers. Apparently, hotels need to obtain a specific certification that allows them to host foreign tourists. However, if you can find the hotel on the booking platforms, then there should be no problem.

In the Southern part of Izu Peninsula, we ended up booking two hotels directly through their website since there were no options on the booking platforms that were in the towns we wanted to stay in. This was somewhat challenging as their websites were completely in Japanese and figuring out which room + meal + amenities combination was confusing.

Reservation refused because we don’t speak Japanese

In one instance, my reservation request was declined. They explained that in case of an earthquake or tsunami, it would be crucial for me to understand the local language to quickly respond to their emergency instructions. It was certainly the first time I’ve been refused a reservation for this reason, but there is an undeniable logic to their reasoning. I could only smile and laugh about it since this would only happen in Japan 😀

All in all, figuring out which hotels to stay at, and in which towns, and proceeding with the reservations was somewhat of a hurdle during our trip planning process.

Fortunately, you can follow our proposed itinerary to ensure your planning process is smooth and stress-free! 

5 Day itinerary in Izu Peninsula

In our 5 day itinerary in Izu Peninsula, you will drive through the loop by first going to the West Side and then through the East side of the peninsula. You will notice that three out of five days are spent on the Western side, as we believe this area offers more captivating attractions and stunning landscapes. 

You will also notice the short driving distances every day. For sure you can cover even further distances but we feel the highlight of traveling through Izu is slowly appreciating the scenery, and also having more time to enjoy at the Ryokans.

Most Ryokans will allow check-in at 3 pm, and there are a ton of activities to do within the Ryokan. This can be soaking in the onsens, enjoying their massage chairs, having tea in their garden, or simply relaxing in the tatami rooms. Also, in the Ryokan experiences, the dinner kaiseki mealtimes are set at around 6 pm so you need to make sure you are ready by then.

Finally, the shorter driving distances will also ensure you have the time to properly enjoy all the scenic stops!

General Daily Schedule

This is what you could expect from a general day during your izu peninsula road trip:

• 8am: You will wake up and eat breakfast, and then set off on the road around 10 am. If you want, you can soak in the onsen before breakfast too, which we did!
• 10am-3pm: You will be on the road and visiting the many wonderful highlights of Izu peninsula.
• 3pm: You will arrive at your next Ryokan. This will allow you time to check-in, and enjoy their facilities. Some have private onsens so you can make sure to arrive early and reserve your time slot.
• 6pm: You will have dinner. The dinner times are fixed times since they have to prepare like 15 mini-courses for you.
• After dinner: You will have time to enjoy in their onsens, relaxing areas, massage chair, or in your tatami room.

This is what you can expect in your day on the izu peninsula road trip. It is incredibly relaxing and allows you to appreciate everything at a slow pace.  

Day 1: Mishima Car Rental to Toi

• Driving time: 1 hour 10 mins
• Distance: 46km

Highlights of Day 1

You will start your day by renting your car and then driving south towards the western side of Izu Peninsula. We ended up going with Times Car Rental as they were one of the only companies that offer rentals at Mishima station, and they have affordable pricing.

If you are instead starting your trip from Atami Station, then you can rent your car from RentalCars.com which works with many of the international car rental brands. 

Highlights of Day 1

Given that renting the car takes time, and you will have taken the shinkansen to get to your starting point, your first day will be relaxing with only a short drive. You will head straight to your hotel in Toi, giving you time to also adjust to driving in Japan.

If you have time, you can stop off at Shuzenji town which has some stunning onsens and cute traditional temples. Otherwise, head straight to your Ryokan and enjoy the onsen. We stayed at Toikan Onsen and had access to a private rooftop onsen!

Where to stay in Toi (Day 1)

The town of Toi has a good selection of accommodations and many of them can be found on a booking platform. This makes the reservation process a lot easier. Here are a few of our favourite selections. 

Day 2: Toi to Kumomi

• Driving time: 1 hour
• Distance: 32km

Highlights of Day 2

This will be one of the most exciting days of your Izu Peninsula itinerary. Here are some of the highlight spots you’ll get to see:

• Lover’s cape bell with your first view of Mount Fuji. Also don’t miss the wasabi ice cream at the cafe. 
• Koganezaki coast and the rock formations of a horsehead
• Dogashima cave and Tombolo Land Bridge
• Kumomi Omoide Misaki where you’ll see the iconic photography spot of the two small rock islands with Mount Fuji in the background.

To get more details about each spot and what to expect, check out our guide on must-see spots in Izu Peninsula. 

Where to stay in Kumomi (Day 2)

Kumomi was one of our favourite towns due to just how small and local it was. It also provided us with 2 of the most stunning views we got of Mount Fuji during our Izu Peninsula itinerary. Since it is a far more local town, there are very few accommodation options that are on booking platforms.

We ended up booking Hamadoraku hotel by contacting them directly by email with Google Translate. We loved our stay there! The family was so sweet and our room had a terrace that looked directly toward the ocean and Mount Fuji.

If ever they are not available, here are two more options:

Day 3: Kumomi to Shimoda

• Driving time: 1 hour
• Distance: 36km

Highlights of Day 3

On your third day, you will start to see the southern tip of Izu Peninsula. There are several Geo Parks with unique rock formations and jagged coasts. Here are some of the highlights:

• Kumomi Sengen Shrine high observation point to get an unobstructed 360 degree view of the peninsula’s coast
• Yusuge Park in Cape Aiai and one of the cutest local handcraft cafe
• Cape Irozaki and its iconic lighthouse
• Cape Tsumekizaki with some stunning pillar rock formations, botanical garden, and huge white lighthouse
• Visit Shimoda town

where to stay in Shimoda (Day 3)

We stayed in the town of Shimoda for our 3rd night. At Shimoda, you are starting to get closer to the East coast so the towns will start being larger and more busy. You will also no longer be able to see Mount Fuji from there.

We absolutely loved our stay at Hotel Yamadaya for the incredible view from their room, and how their onsens were these zen rocky gardens overlooking the sea. It costs around 30,000 JPY for two people in their pure Japanese-style room including dinner and breakfast. They also have a free massage chair you can use (which we definitely did!).

Here are a few more accommodation options that we would recommend depending on whether you want a more resort-like hotel, or a more luxurious mountaintop ryokan:

Day 4: Shimoda to Ito

• Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Distance: 52km

Highlights of Day 4

On your fourth day, you will be completely on the East side of the peninsula. You will see some beautiful parks, an inactive volcano with several activities surrounding it, and more stunning coasts.

• If you haven’t tried it yet, make sure to stop at Kawazu for some fresh grilled eel and rice
• Mount Omuro, an inactive volcano, where you can take a chairlift up to the top to see amazing views. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Fuji. There are also several activities in this area including archery, pottery and more.
• Visit Jogasaki Coast with the suspension bridge
• Explore the town of Ito

where to stay in Ito (Day 4)

Ito is a town directly serviced by the train so it is easy to access for many travelers. There are tons of options for accommodation and we stayed at K’s House Ito Onsen. It is a very historical Onsen and provided simple lodging but to be honest, it had more of a hostel-vibe and lacked the zen ambiance all the previous ryokans had.

Retrospectively, we wish we had stayed in one of the other stunning Ryokans around Ito. In particular, we had our eyes on LaForet Ito Onsen Yunoniwa.

Day 5: Ito back to Mishima station

• Driving time: 1 hour
• Distance: 38km

Highlights of Day 5

On your final day, you will be mostly driving to return to Mishima. If you have extra time, you can go see Atami Castle or Japan’s longest bridge, the Mishima Sky Walk. After returning your vehicle, you can take the Shinkansen to your next destination.

Where to stay on Day 5

Following the return of our car, we took the train to go to Tokyo. However, if you have more time, you can drive to Hakone or any of the other towns surrounding Mount Fuji. Check out our guide on the hidden gem experiences in Tokyo to get better prepared!

If you only have 3 nights in Izu Peninsula

If you have 1 less night (thus 3 nights), then we would recommend keeping the first 3 nights’ itinerary the same, and simply skip the part in Ito. This means you will sleep in Toi, Kumomi, and Shimoda.

For us, the least interesting part was around Mount Bromo and Ito since the towns got a lot busier and the natural views less impressive. With this change in the itinerary, you will need to drive around 2 hours and 15 minutes on your final day as you head back to return your car at Mishima station.

This post is part of our series about Japan. If you want to learn more about Japan, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

28 Unique Things to do in Tokyo (2025)

10 Day Japan Travel Itinerary: First Timer’s Complete Guide

Day Trip to Nara, Japan: Ultimate Travel Guide (2024)

One day in Osaka: Itinerary Guide (2025)

Best Things to do in Izu Peninsula, Japan (2024)

30 Things To Do in Japan: Ultimate Bucketlist

36 Essential Tips For Traveling in Japan: First-time Visitors Guide

2 Days Kyoto Itinerary: Exploring off the Typical Tourist Trail

Highlight experiences during this itinerary in Izu

Our favourite experiences during the Izu Peninsula itinerary were enjoying the Ryokans, onsens, kaiseki seafood meals, and the stunning coastal views with Mount Fuji, especially on the Western side. To get a full overview of the best experiences in Izu peninsula, check out our Izu highlights guide. If you’re wondering what else you can plan into your Japan trip, then check out our full Japan Itinerary Guide!

FAQ for Izu Peninsula Road Trip

Is English spoken?

Very minimal is spoken in the Izu Peninsula. This is particularly the case on the Western side. On the eastern side, in towns like Ito and Atami, you can expect moderate levels of English. We don’t speak Japanese but we managed fine by using Google Translate and just body language.

Is driving safe?

In Japan, they drive on the left side, which is opposite to most North American and European countries. We live in Canada and we normally drive on the right side so it took some time to get used to driving in Japan.

With that being said, we felt the driving was completely safe (we have definitely done some more challenging road trips like through Namibia in Africa, Dolomites in Italy, and Utah in United States). In fact, if you are trying for the first time to drive on the left side, we would say that doing so in Japan is probably the safest way to start.

The reason is that Japanese drivers are very courteous, respectful, and never pressure you. Even when I was driving slower on the roads, there were never any cars tailgating me or honking at me. For this reason, we felt very safe driving in Japan.

Road conditions in Izu Peninsula?

The road conditions on the Izu peninsula are excellent. The roads are quite winding and you will be driving alongside cliffs, but otherwise, it is very safe. Also, whenever there is construction work, there will be a designated construction worker who will bow at you when passing to apologize for the inconvenience.

What is the etiquette in onsens?

Seeing as you will be visiting multiple onsens during your Izu Peninsula itinerary, it is important to get to know beforehand the etiquette in onsens.

First, most onsens in Japan do not permit people with visible tattoos to enter. Nan has a few tattoos but in the Izu Peninsula, we were actually able to go to every onsen and nobody seemed to mind.

Second, you are supposed to soak in the onsens fully naked. There is one onsen designated for men and one for women. When the days change, the designated onsens switch. You will be provided with a small towel that you are supposed to bring with you into the onsen to wipe your face or cool off.

Finally, it is possible to reserve a private onsen in some ryokans, in which case you will be able to share the onsen experience with your partner.

Is traveling Izu Peninsula expensive?

Traveling through Izu Peninsula is not as expensive as compared to staying in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka. Although staying at the Ryokans cost around 10,000 – 15,000 JPY per person per night, it includes your accommodation and also both a delicious breakfast and a multi-course seafood dinner. Other than your car rental cost, the activities in Izu Peninsula are mostly free as they are natural sights.

We spent around 1300 CAD for the both of us for 5 days and 4 nights. This comes out to around 260 CAD together per day. Seeing as a hotel in Tokyo or Kyoto costs at least 100-150 CAD per night, not including meals, we would consider Izu Peninsula quite affordable by Japanese standards.

Using WISE card in Japan

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Where to go after Izu Peninsula?

After visiting the Izu Peninsula, you can go north towards Hakone to see Mount Fuji, West towards Osaka, Kyoto, or Nara, or East towards Tokyo. We have covered a full Japan itinerary including Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, and optional day trips in our Japan Travel Itinerary.

Japan is such a beautiful country but there are a lot of things to get used to and adapt to. For this reason, we have summarized 36 essential tips for traveling in Japan to help you navigate this beautiful yet foreign country!

Summary: Izu Peninsula Itinerary

Izu Peninsula was definitely worth all the work of researching and planning. Although figuring out the details proved to be a lot more challenging than the rest of Japan, it ended up being the favourite part of our trip.

Now that we have done all the legwork for you, we hope this itinerary will inspire you to venture out into this less-explored area. By following our step-by-step Izu Peninsula Road trip itinerary, we are sure that your experience there will also be unforgettable! For help with the rest of your trip, check out our step-by-step itinerary for traveling through Japan.

Looking for more travel inspiration?

Incredible volcanoes and ancient Mayan civilizations: Tikal and Antigua in Guatemala.

Hiking in the Andes and discovering Machu Picchu: Travel itinerary in Peru, hiking to Machu Picchu

Exploring ancient cave dwellings and riding hot air balloons in Cappadocia

Exploring and sailing on the Turkish Coast

Hiking in one of the US’s best national parks and road tripping through Utah

Discover Vietnam and the exciting northern Ha Giang Loop, as well as the Unesco city of Hoi An.