A Nature Day Trip to Izu: Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro Itinerary
The Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro are two natural wonders of the Izu Peninsula located in Ito city that can easily be combined as a day trip from Tokyo, Atami, or other nearby towns in the Izu Peninsula. If hiking along a scenic coastline and walking around the crater of an extinct volcano sounds intriguing to you, then this day trip itinerary should interest you!
Why Visit Izu Peninsula?
Located in Shizuoka Prefecture and about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo, the Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島) is packed with natural sites, hot springs, beaches, and other fun attractions. It's easily accessible from Tokyo by train (1.5-2.5 hours), and makes an excellent idea for a day trip or a weekend getaway.
A Morning Hike along Jogasaki Coast
The Jogasaki Coast (城ヶ崎海岸), or Jogasaki Kaigan, is a picturesque coastline along the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula. You can walk along the 9km volcanic coastline offering beautiful views of the Sagami Bay.
There are several hiking trails but I decided to follow the Jogasaki Picnical Course (城ヶ崎ピクニカルコース) starting from the northern end, located to the south of Futo Port (富戸港). I couldn’t find a map online showing the different trails, but you can find the starting point of the hike I did on Google Maps by typing “Jogasaki Picnical Course”.
How to Get to the Start of the Jogasaki Picnical Course
While it’s possible to do this itinerary on a day trip from Tokyo, I would recommend you stay the night before in the nearby city called Ito (伊東), which I have already written about: “Ito Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, Eat and More”.
To access the start of the Jogasaki Picnical Course from Ito station, you can take:
A local Tokai bus, get off at the 城ヶ崎口 (Jogasaki-Kuchi) bus stop, and walk for about 5 minutes to the start of the trail (my choice).
A train on the Izu-Kyuko line from Ito station to Jogasaki Kaigan station, and walk about 20 minutes.
Saving Tip: If you stop by the Ito Tourist Information Center located at Ito station, you can buy the Ito Sightseeing Free Pass (2-day pass for ¥1,800). It allows you to get on and off the local Tokai Bus around Ito and Izu Kogen, and grants you discounts in a selection of attractions. Details of this offer can be found here (Japanese only).
The Jogasaki Picnical Course: A Seaside Walk and Geological Wonders
The first point of interest at the start of the walk is this small lookout post (富戸の魚見小屋), which was once used for mullet fishing, and the beautiful coastline in the background.
富戸の魚見小屋
Nearby, there are public restrooms and vending machines, where I stocked up water bottles for the upcoming hike. There is also a restaurant called Boranaya (ぼら納屋), which serves seafood bowls.
The path zigzags along the coast with a few tree-covered sections offering welcome shade in the summer heat. When I visited in September 2022, the weather was at its best, and, as I was hiking, I was mesmerized by the crystal color of the ocean and the striking contrast with the dark volcanic rocks.
As part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and the Izu Peninsula Geo Park, this rugged stretch of coastline was formed by the cooling molten lava from a volcanic eruption about 4,000 years ago. Fans of this kind of geological wonders can spend hours observing these strange rock formations up close.
After about an hour and half, I arrived at one of the highlights of the Jogasaki coastline, the Kadowaki suspension bridge (門脇つり橋), which is 48 metres long and 23 metres above the water, and the Kadowaki lighthouse (門脇埼灯台).
Kadowaki Suspension Bridge
You can enter the lighthouse for free for a panoramic view of the coastline. Unfortunately for me, it was closed during the COVID period so I wasn’t able to enter. Under the lighthouse, there's a small shop selling souvenirs, snacks and drinks, where I had a well-deserved ice cream after the hike in the heat.
Kadowaki Lighthouse
The trail continues to the south, all the way to the New York Lamp Museum & Flower Garden and a restaurant called Cafe Restaurant Lily. If you are already filled with satisfaction from your exploration of Jogasaki Coast and are up for a different type of scenery, then it is time to go to your next destination, Mount Omuro! Otherwise, you can continue hiking along the coastline all the way to Izu-Kōgen Station.
Time to Go to Mount Omuro
From the “Izukaiyo Park” bus stop next to Cafe Restaurant Lily, you can take a direct bus to Mount Omuro, stopping at "Shaboten Koen" (シャボテン公園) bus stop at the foot of Mount Omuro. The bus journey takes approximately 30 minutes. Please note that buses are not frequent (about 1 per hour), so I recommend checking the bus timetable in advance with Google Maps.
Take in the View from the Summit of Mount Omuro
Mount Omuro (大室山) is one of the places I enjoyed most during my trip to Izu! This extinct volcano, located south of the town of Ito and close to the east coast of the Izu peninsula, offers a 360-degree panoramic view on a sunny day, including Mount Fuji and the nearby Izu islands (such as Oshima). Like Jogasaki Coast, this cinder cone volcano was formed by a volcanic eruption around 4,000 years ago.
The chairlift to the top of Mount Omuro is right next to the bus stop. Before you get to the top, you can stop in the adjacent building where there are toilets and a few souvenir shops selling snacks and drinks. There is also a little restaurant called Ohmuro Lucheonette where I stopped and had an excellent late lunch.
The chairlift roundtrip ticket to the top of Mount Omuro costs ¥1,000. It is open from 9am to 5pm from March to September (and to 4pm from October to February). You can check its operation status on the day of your visit on the official website here. The chairlift was plenty of fun and particularly impressive on the way down!
Once you've reached the top, chances are the first thing you'll do (like me) is stop off at the little shop to the right of the lift exit for a delicious dango (mochi sweets). Once that craving has been satisfied, it's time to enjoy the view of this verdant crater, and the 360° view you can get from walking around the summit of Mount Omuro! I was lucky enough to see Mount Fuji on the day of my visit. Hopefully, you will too!
It takes 20 to 30 minutes to walk around the 1km crater, and more likely an hour if the weather permits.
As Mount Omuro is considered a sacred mountain, there are also a few power spots around the crater, such as a shinto shrine called Sengen Shrine, as well as Buddhas and Jizo statues.
Summer really was an ideal time to visit the volcano and enjoy its brilliant green robe. I must have spent two hours at the top, circling the crater, taking photos and enjoying the wonderful views. In fact, I enjoyed it so much hat I decided to go back a second time the next morning!
My Itinerary in a Map
What to Do Next?
There's plenty to see and do around the Izu Peninsula, starting with a visit to the town of Ito, a hidden gem I have already written about in my article: “Ito Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay, Eat and More”.
To Conclude
This day exploring the Jogasaki coast and Mount Omuro was one of my favourite days of my trip to the Izu Peninsula. If my article made you want to go and you enjoyed it as much as I did, please let me know by leaving a comment or contacting me on my socials!
I'm looking forward to writing more articles about the places I've visited on the Izu Peninsula, such as Kawazu and Shimoda. If you'd like to read these future articles, sign up to my monthly newsletter to be informed when they'll be published!
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