Izu & ShizuokaArea

The Izu Peninsula offers a different kind of Japan road trip: coastal roads instead of mountain passes, ocean views instead of alpine scenery, and a noticeably slower pace than the cities further north. Driving here means following curved coastal highways that hug cliffs and beaches, with frequent pull-offs for photos of the Pacific coastline and, on clear days, Mt. Fuji rising over the water.

Izu is known for its hot spring towns, many of which sit directly on the coast, so it's possible to soak in an onsen with an ocean view before continuing down the peninsula. Fishing towns along the way are good stops for fresh seafood, and the interior hills are dotted with waterfalls and tea fields worth a short detour.

Because Izu is reachable in a few hours from Tokyo, it works well as a self-contained two- or three-day trip, or as an extension of a longer road trip that also covers Hakone or Mt. Fuji. Roads are generally well maintained, though the coastal route narrows in places and can slow down considerably during the summer beach season and other peak travel periods, so building extra time into an itinerary is a good idea.