Center

The city of Mishima is the entry point to the center and west of the Izu Peninsula. But, what characterizes this central region is that the Kawazu River runs through it, on its banks we find Nirayama, a city of historical importance, Shuzenji, a thermal city that is said to have been created in the 8th century by the monk Kobo Daishi, who, by hitting his stick on a rock, made the water emerge, Yugashima, another famous spa, or the magnificent landscapes offered by the Kawazu waterfalls. It is in this central part of the peninsula, and more specifically near the Kawazu waterfalls, where the novel “The Izu Dancer” by the Nobel Prize winner for literature Yasunari Kawabata is set.

Places to visit

Mishima Taisha Shrine

The “first sanctuary of Izu” is surrounded by heavily wooded grounds. The Treasury room houses the official documents issued by the first Kamakura shogun, as well as swords and art objects.

• 15 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride from Mishima station.

Rakujuen Garden

This 67,000 m2 landscaped garden includes a pond fed by waters from Mount Fuji. It was created in the Meiji period by a local lord.

• A 3 minute walk from Mishima station.

Former Egawa residence

The Egawa family was a dynasty of high administrators of the Isu province during the Edo period. The house, the oldest of its kind in Japan, has been kept in good condition. A beautiful garden surrounded by bamboo and the typical architecture of the residences of the time are its charms.

• 3 minutes by bus or 15 minutes on foot from Nirayama station.

Izu-Nagaoka

In this famous spa, hotels and ryokan surround Genjiyama hill, its top can be reached in 15 minutes, from where the views of the surroundings are beautiful. 10 minutes away by bus (Izu-Nagaoka Machi Yakubamae stop), a cable car goes up to the top of Mount Katsuragi.

• 30 minutes by train from Atami Station to Izu Nagaoka-Hakone-Izu with Tetsudo Railways line.

Shuzenji Temple

This temple was founded at the beginning of the Heian period, in 807, by the monk Kobo Daishi. The Treasure Room houses various objects related to the Minamoto family and a beautiful collection of Non-ancient masks. A kabuki play, “Shuzenji Monogatari”, tells the tragic story of Yoriie Minamoto, which takes place in this place.

• 10 minutes by bus from Shuzenji Station.

Mount daruma

After an hour’s walk from the Darumayama Provincial Camping, you can reach the top where you can admire Mount Fuji and Suruga Bay.

• 30 minutes by bus from Shuzenji Station.

Yagashima-onsen

A lovely spa in the valley on the banks of the Kano River.

• 25 minutes by bus from Shuzenji Station.

Joren Falls

At the top of the Kano River, we find some 25-meter high waterfalls that offer a magnificent spectacle.

• 20 minutes by bus from Yugashima-onsen.

Amagi wild boar park

This park is home to wild boars and raccoons, which we can see evolving in the wild.

• 15 minutes by bus from Yugashima-onsen.

Kawazu Nanadaru, the 7 Kawazu Falls

In breathtaking scenery, seven waterfalls follow one another on the Kawazu River. A one-hour walk along a path enabled for this purpose allows you to see the waterfalls between the Mizutare bus stop and the Kawazu Nanadaru stop. A five-hour walk takes us from the Joren waterfalls to the Kawazu waterfalls, passing through the old Amagaki tunnel and following in the footsteps of the heroine of Kawabata’s novel.

• 25 minutes by bus from Kawazu Station or 1 hour by bus from Shimoda Station.
• http://www.kawazu-onsen.com/eng/

Transport

Tokyo Station> (1 hour and 5 minutes with Shinkansen “Kodama”)> Mishima Station

Tokyo Station> (2 hours 7 minutes by JR Odoriko train)> Shuzenji Station

Mishima Station> (30 minutes with the Izu-Hakone Tetsudo Railways line)> Shuzenji Station
Ito Station> (1 hour by bus)> Shuzenji Station