Izu Peninsula, Chubu
At a glance, Izu Peninsula looked like a picturesque Hawaii during the summer. The peninsula is a resort area about 100 kilometres away from the Southwest of Tokyo. The mild climate at Izu makes it a popular spot for the locals and tourists. And with the palm trees, it really does look like Hawaii.
Izu Peninsular is a popular recreational as it is known for its onsen hot springs, including Atami and Mishima. The peninsula abuts Mt. Fuji and is a part of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.
It is also a popular destination for scuba diving. Historically the top three diving destinations are:
* Izu Ocean Park (IOP) (伊豆海洋公園 Izu Kaiyō Kōen)
* Yawatano (八幡野)
* Osezaki (大瀬崎 Ōsezaki)
Further south, there is a tropical plant conservatory called Banana Crocodile Park (バナナワニ園 Banana Wani-en) near Itō.
Izu being one of Japan’s biggest producers of wasabi, the local cuisine offers many wasabi-flavored dishes. Some famous towns and popular tourist attractions include old Shuzenji with its temples, onsens, waterfalls, and ryokans, and Shimoda, the landing site of Commodore Perry’s infamous fleet of black ships. Your chances of tasting a REAL wasabi is probably higher in Izu than anywhere else in Japan.
How to get there?
Visit this website for a concise guide on getting to Izu Peninsula.
- 
