Ito (伊東市) is a charming seaside hot springs town in Shizuoka Prefecture. It's a base to stay and explore the underrated but beautiful Izu Peninsula, which is packed with natural sites, onsen towns and other fun attractions to discover.

If you're interested in a retro town, a beach, hot springs, an extinct volcano, and a nature hike by the sea, then you should read on. Ito has it all, yet is only a couple of hours from Tokyo. It is also less well-known than its neighboring town Atami. In this article, I will share my favourite activities in Ito as well as some recommendations for accommodation and restaurants that I particularly enjoyed.

How to Get to Ito

There are several options for getting to Ito from Tokyo:

• The quickest way is to take a Shinkansen from Tokyo station to Atami (50 minutes), and transfer to a local train on the JR Ito line (20 minutes) to Ito station. The trip costs ¥4,800.

• If you prefer a direct option, there is a direct JR Odoriko Limited Express Train also departing from Tokyo station every hour allowing you to reach Ito in 100 minutes for ¥3,890.

• If you prefer to save money and are not in a hurry, instead of the Shinkansen, you can take a local train on the Ueno-Tokyo Line from Tokyo or Shinagawa station to Atami station and then a local train on the Ito line. The entire trip takes 2 hours and half but only costs ¥2,310.

8 Best Things to See and Do in Ito

1/ Walk Around Ito's Nostalgic Town Centre

As soon as you leave the station and stroll through the shopping district of Icho Dori or Yu-no-Hana Dori (湯の花通り商店街), you start feeling the nostalgic vibe of Ito. It really does have the kind of particular atmosphere of a good, old hot spring town, which is hard to describe but you feel right away. A fun game is to look for the statues of the Seven Lucky Gods that are scattered in the area as well as hot-spring-related artefacts (including the manhole covers!). There are several souvenir shops and restaurants in the area, but overall Ito is a fairly quiet town.

2/ Learn about Ito History at Tokaikan, a Former Ryokan turned into a Museum

The Tokaikan (東海館) is the city's landmark building and can be reached in an 8-minute walk from the station. Built in 1928, this traditional grand hotel was converted into a museum after it closed in 1997. Housing a public bath, a teahouse, and exhibitions on the history of Ito, this wooden building is a fine example of traditional Japanese architecture and offers a nice view of the Matsukawa River. It’s open from 9am to 9pm (last admission at 8pm), and costs ¥200. Note that if you would like to use the public bath, an additional ¥500-admission is required. Baths are only available from 11am to 7pm.

3/ Sunbath at Ito Orange Beach

Located close to the station, Ito Orange Beach (伊東オレンジビーチ) is a dark sandy beach ideal for a dip in summer or for relaxing by the sea the rest of the year. To the south of the beach is a pretty little park called Nagisa Park (なぎさ公園), which hosts a few sculptures from a local artist, Kenji Shigeoka.

4/ Explore Ito Marine Town

From Ito Orange Beach, you can follow the seafront along National Road 135 for about 20 minutes to the Ito Marine Town roadside station (道の駅 伊東マリンタウン). You cannot miss the line of colorful buildings!

Ito Marine Town has an Ocean Bazaar comprised of seafood restaurants and shops selling local products (a great place to find souvenirs). It also has a Seaside Spa, and a port center where you can buy tickets for boat trips. But my favorite was the free outdoor footbath with hot onsen water where you can soak your tired feet while enjoying a relaxing view of the harbour.

5/ Take an Evening Stroll along Matsukawa River

The footpath around the Matsukawa River (松川) is beautifully illuminated at night, making it an ideal spot for a romantic night-time stroll. The view of the illuminated Tokaikan and its reflection on the river is one of my favorite views of Ito. You can walk all the way to a local shrine called Otonashi Shrine (音無神社), known for its giant camphor trees.

Note that this river walk is also a popular spot during the sakura season, as it is lined with cherry trees.

6/ Have a Relaxing Time in One of Ito Onsen Baths

As you are visiting a hot-spring town, you can't leave Ito without taking advantage of its onsen! Many hotels have onsen facilities where you can enjoy Ito's hot springs directly. But, as introduced before, you can also go to the Tokaikan, the seaside spa in Ito Marine Town, or visit one of the many hotels offering paid access to their onsen during the day.

7/ Marvel at a 360° Panoramic View from the Summit of Mount Omuro

Mount Omuro (大室山) is one of the places I enjoyed most on 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 views on a sunny day, including Mount Fuji and the nearby Izu islands (such as Oshima)! 

Summer was really a great time to visit to enjoy seeing the volcano in its vibrant green coat. I must have spent a couple of hours at the summit walking around the crater, taking pictures and enjoying the marvelous views. There is a small shrine and jizo statues as well as a shop where you can buy street food such as dango.

To reach Mount Omuro, you can take a bus to Shaboten Koen (シャボテン公園) from Ito station or Izu Kogen station and get off at the last stop. The chairlift to the top of Mount Omuro (¥1,000) is right next to the bus stop.

8/ Hike along Jogasaki Coast, one of Izu Peninsula’s Natural Wonders

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 a 9km hiking trail offering beautiful views of the volcanic coastline and Sagami Bay. Hiking along this geological wonder was another highlight of my trip to Izu.

From Ito station, you can take the Izukyuko line to Jogasaki Kaigan station and walk about 20 minutes. If you are staying in Ito, you can also take the bus to the start of the walk, getting off at the 城ヶ崎口 stop.

A visit to Jogasaki coast and Mount Omuro can be easily combined in a day trip (my recommendation). To know more about this one-day itinerary, you can read my article “A Nature Day Trip to Izu: Jogasaki Coast and Mount Omuro Itinerary”.

When to Visit Ito and How Long to Stay

Ito is a great year-round destination, but I was very happy to go in the summer (early September) to enjoy the beach and the lush colours of Mount Omuro and Jogasaki Coast. There are also several popular sakura viewing spots in the area, such as the Sakura-no-sato (さくらの里) at the foot of Mount Omuro, so spring would be perhaps my second best choice.

Where To Eat in Ito

If there is one restaurant I would absolutely recommend in Ito, it’s a small izakaya called Kunihachi (国八), located a minute away from the Tokaikan. This restaurant, run by a friendly old couple, serves delicious local delicacies at an affordable price. The atmosphere is both eccentric and delightful thanks to the decorations that fill the whole place (including customer drawings which are hung) and are sure to catch your eye. This restaurant was really a hidden gem!

In addition, as a fan of kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants, I also enjoyed HAMA-SUSHI Ito Yukawa, located a few minutes' walk from Ito Marine Town. It has an amazing value for money, and offers a wide selection of sushi and other Japanese dishes at very affordable prices (the cheapest plate costs ¥110 and includes two sushi pieces).

Where to Stay in Ito

There are several hotels and ryokans in the area to suit all budgets. If you're looking for the best value for money, I recommend the hostel called K's House Ito Onsen. This inn offers an authentic ryokan experience with its long labyrinth-like corridors and traditional tatami rooms of different sizes. The nicest ones have a balcony over the Matsukawa river and their own private toilets. Facilities include a common kitchen, a dining room, a comfortable lounge with TV, and onsen bathes with natural hot spring water (shared and private). The staff speak English and were very friendly during my visit. The only downside I can find to this incredible place is that, as it's an old traditional building, the sound insulation isn't good, which could inconvenience people who are sensitive to noise.

How to Get Around Ito

If you are planning to stay in Ito and explore nearby sights such as Mount Omuro and Jogasaki Coast, then I recommend you stop by the Itō Tourist Information Center at Ito station to 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 on the bus company's website here (Japanese only).

Ito in a Map

Final Thoughts on Ito

The Izu Peninsula is an off-the-beaten-track destination near Tokyo. And of all the places I visited on my trip to the Izu Peninsula, Ito was my favourite. There's just so much to do!

In the future, I'll be writing about other amazing places to visit on the Izu Peninsula, such as Kawazu, Shimoda and Yugawara. You can sign up to my mailing list or follow my socials to be informed when these articles go online, or email me if you have any particular question.

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