🌊 Shizuoka · 2 days
Izu Peninsula Coastal Loop: Onsen, Cliffs & Seafood
A 2-day Izu Peninsula drive from Tokyo: east coast onsen at Ito, Shimoda’s beaches, the wild west coast at Matsuzaki and Toi — with 8 michi-no-eki stops.
Izu is Tokyo’s favorite onsen escape, but almost everyone stays on the train line down the east coast. With a car you get the half nobody sees: the west coast’s cliff roads and fishing ports, where the sun sets over Suruga Bay with Mt Fuji on the horizon.
This loop runs down the east side through Ito and Shimoda — Marine Town Ito has harbor-front hot-spring footbaths, Shimoda Minato is built around a fish market — then back north through Matsuzaki and Toi. In February the Kawazu cherry trees along the east coast bloom a full month before Tokyo’s.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Izu Geetouei Kannami 道の駅 伊豆ゲートウェイ函南 · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Izu Geetouei Kannami (道の駅 伊豆ゲートウェイ函南) is a government-designated roadside station in 田方郡函南町, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2016 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 129 cars and 12 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Izu Noheso, Hakone Touge and Kurura Toda.
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Izu Noheso 道の駅 伊豆のへそ · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Izu Noheso (道の駅 伊豆のへそ) is a government-designated roadside station in 伊豆の国市, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2005 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 68 cars and 22 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 観光案内所 10時 - 16時 各店舗の営業時間はhttp://izunoheso.com/でご確認ください。. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Izu Geetouei Kannami, Itou Marintaun and Kurura Toda.
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Itou Marintaun 道の駅 伊東マリンタウン · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Itou Marintaun (道の駅 伊東マリンタウン) is a government-designated roadside station in 伊東市, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and EV charging. There is free parking for about 298 cars and 14 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 【ショップ】9:00–20:00、【レストラン】9:00–21:00、【日帰り温泉】5:00–21:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Izu Noheso, Izu Geetouei Kannami and Amagi Koe.
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Kaikoku Shimoda Minato 道の駅 開国下田みなと · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Kaikoku Shimoda Minato (道の駅 開国下田みなと) is a government-designated roadside station in 下田市, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2003 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and free Wi-Fi. There is free parking for about 207 cars and 13 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shimogamoonsen Yu No Hana, Hana No San Hijiri En Izu Matsuzaki and Amagi Koe.
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Shimogamoonsen Yu No Hana 道の駅 下賀茂温泉 湯の花 · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Shimogamoonsen Yu No Hana (道の駅 下賀茂温泉 湯の花) is a government-designated roadside station in 賀茂郡南伊豆町, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2009 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 51 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9：00–17：00（観光案内施設） 9：00–16：00（販売施設・展示施設）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Kaikoku Shimoda Minato, Hana No San Hijiri En Izu Matsuzaki and Amagi Koe.
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Hana No San Hijiri En Izu Matsuzaki 道の駅 花の三聖苑伊豆松崎 · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Hana No San Hijiri En Izu Matsuzaki (道の駅 花の三聖苑伊豆松崎) is a government-designated roadside station in 賀茂郡松崎町, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 1995 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and EV charging. There is free parking for about 85 cars and 5 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（食事部門 11:00–14:30、木曜日定休）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shimogamoonsen Yu No Hana, Amagi Koe and Kaikoku Shimoda Minato.
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Kurura Toda 道の駅 くるら戸田 · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Kurura Toda (道の駅 くるら戸田) is a government-designated roadside station in 沼津市, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 2014 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 42 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–21:00〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Izu Noheso, Izu Geetouei Kannami and Amagi Koe.
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Amagi Koe 道の駅 天城越え · Shizuoka
Michi-no-Eki Amagi Koe (道の駅 天城越え) is a government-designated roadside station in 伊豆市, Shizuoka, Japan, registered in 1998 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi, a tourist-information desk and hands-on experiences. There is free parking for about 188 cars and 8 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 8:30–16:30〔施設により異なる〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Chubu road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Hana No San Hijiri En Izu Matsuzaki, Izu Noheso and Kurura Toda.
Make this route yours — load all 8 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Drive the loop clockwise in winter, counter-clockwise in summer — it keeps the ocean on your side for the best light.
- The west-coast road is narrow and winding; allow twice the time Google Maps suggests.
- Shimoda’s beaches (Shirahama) rival Okinawa in color from May to early July, before the crowds.
- Wasabi is the local crop — the michi-no-eki around Amagi sell fresh roots you can bring home.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?