I’m planning a road trip from Yokohama to Nagoya and would like to know if it’s worth spending two or three nights in the Shizuoka area (such as Izu), and if there are any unique cafes or boutique shops I should check out.
If you’re taking a road trip from Yokohama to Nagoya, why not stop by Izu Kogen along the way?
If you’re planning to stop in Izu between Yokohama and Nagoya, the Ito and Izu Kogen areas are relatively easy to incorporate into your route.
You can enter the Izu Peninsula from the Mishima area via the Izu Jukan Expressway and continue directly toward the Ito and Izu Kogen areas.
In Ito, you’ll find Mt. Omuro—a popular scenic spot that epitomizes Izu—as well as Tokai-kan, which retains the atmosphere of a traditional hot spring town with its historic wooden architecture.
Furthermore, Izu Kogen offers unique cafes, local shops, and places to enjoy crafts, allowing you to experience Izu in ways that go beyond simply visiting tourist attractions.
Day 1 | Yokohama → Izu Kogen
First, head to Mt. Omuro, an iconic landmark of Izu!
Take the Mount Omuro hiking lift to the summit, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view stretching all the way to Mount Fuji and the Izu Islands.
And there’s a special treat just for travelers coming from Yokohama.
If the weather and visibility are good, you can even see the Yokohama Landmark Tower from Mt. Omuro.
One of the fun aspects of this trip is that you can actually enjoy the journey itself.
At the summit, you can walk around the crater rim while taking in the scenery, and at the base, you can try your hand at archery.
There are many restaurants around Mt. Omuro, but from the perspective of **“unique cafes”—the theme of this trip**—I’d like to suggest “Shiraki” and “See The Forest Coffee Roastery & Cafe” as top picks.
“Shiraki” is a small café located at the foot of Mt. Omuro.
What makes this place interesting isn’t just the food.
Behind the café lies a concept centered on “White”—a space that embodies living in Izu while hunting, eating game meat, and running the shop as a married couple.
Rather than simply “trying local specialties” at a tourist spot,
it’s more about getting a glimpse into the mindset and worldview of the people who live there.
I think this is a place where you can enjoy that kind of experience.
Hours are from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and reservations are not accepted.
Therefore, rather than treating it as a must-visit spot, we recommend considering it as a place to stop by if the shop’s operating days and hours align with your itinerary.
Also, you can get a sense of the shop’s atmosphere and background through its official website and social media, so be sure to check them out before you go.
https://www.instagram.com/shiroki328/
https://note.com/chic_kalmia8125
“See The Forest Coffee Roastery & Cafe” is a small coffee roastery and café nestled in the woods of Izu Kogen.
In addition to enjoying their house-roasted specialty coffee, you can also savor meals like banh mi and avocado toast, as well as homemade baked goods and pudding.
The appeal of this shop isn’t limited to just coffee. The interior is lined with books, miscellaneous goods, coffee equipment, and tableware, giving the impression that it’s a place to enjoy the unique atmosphere the shop has created—rather than simply “going to a café.”
The shop’s name, “See The Forest,” takes the phrase “See the forest” from the proverb “Don’t see the forest for the trees,” embodying the desire to create a place where visitors can make new discoveries and gain fresh insights.
It’s about a 10-minute drive from Mt. Omuro, so it’s a great spot to visit in combination with Mt. Omuro and Shiroki.
Mount Omuro
↓ About 5 minutes by car
Shiraki
↓ About a 10-minute drive
See The Forest
↓
Accommodations in Izu Kogen
For those who want to enjoy not just “cafes at famous tourist spots,” but also the atmosphere, design, coffee, and even the merchandise at local shops, this place fits the theme of this trip quite well.
When choosing where to stay after a day of sightseeing, it might be best to base your decision on your specific goals.
If you want to enjoy cuisine unique to Izu, try “Izu no Hana, a Culinary Inn.”
If you want to casually enjoy an Izu hot spring inn, try “Izu Kogen Hinodeya.”
If you want to make the inn itself the highlight of your Izu trip, try “Oyado Uchiyama.”
① Izu no Hana: A Culinary Inn
A secluded retreat for adults, recommended for those who “want to stay primarily for the cuisine.”
Surrounded by bamboo groves, this quiet inn features seven guest rooms, each with its own private open-air bath. From the guest rooms, you can enjoy views of the Izu Sea and Izu Oshima, and relax in a serene, modern-Japanese atmosphere.
As the name suggests, the inn places special emphasis on its cuisine. You can enjoy kaiseki cuisine made with seafood from the waters off Izu and seasonal ingredients in a private dining room.
Also, considering that you’ll likely want to explore the Ito hot spring town the next day, reservations must be made by the previous business day, but a free shuttle service is available from Izu-Kogen Station and Futo Station.
While you’ll need to coordinate the return shuttle time with the inn, this is a very welcome service.
Recommended for
- Those who want to fully enjoy Izu’s seafood
- Those who want to relax at a quiet inn
- Those who want a private open-air bath in their room
- Those who want a touch of luxury but prefer to avoid large-scale hotels
Izu no Hana: A Restaurant-Focused Inn – Official Website
② Izu Kogen · Hinodeya
A great option for those who want to enjoy an Izu hot spring inn in a more casual setting.
Located in Izu Kogen, this ryokan serves cuisine made with seasonal ingredients from Izu. Depending on the plan, dinner features kaiseki cuisine, and for breakfast, you can choose between Japanese and Western-style meals.
They also offer room-only stays, and there’s a 24-hour supermarket right in front of the inn, as well as a convenience store about a 2-minute walk away.
This inn is convenient not only for those who “want to have all their meals at the inn” but also for travelers exploring Izu Kogen by car.
Furthermore, considering a tour of the Ito hot spring district the next day, its location—a 7-minute walk from Izu-Kogen Station—makes it ideal for a trip where you can leave your car at the inn and explore the Ito hot spring district on foot.
Recommended for
- Those who prefer a more casual stay than a high-end ryokan
- Those who want to spend plenty of time sightseeing in Izu Kogen
- Those who want to stay at a hot spring inn but also enjoy dining out
- Those looking to keep travel costs down a bit
Izu Kogen Hinodeya Official Website
③ Oshuku Uchiyama
A unique inn designed for “those who want the inn itself to be the highlight of their Izu trip.”
Located at the foot of Mt. Omuro, this detached inn limits its guests to just six groups per day. All guest rooms are private and feature their own open-air hot spring baths. The main attraction is the chance to soak in the hot spring while gazing out at the ocean and enjoying a peaceful retreat.
The cuisine strongly reflects the essence of Izu, offering “Uchiyama-style kaiseki” that features seasonal ingredients from both the sea and the mountains, such as spiny lobster, red seabream, and seasonal seafood. Great care is taken with the tableware and presentation as well. Abalone in thick sauce is featured as a breakfast specialty.
If you plan to explore the Ito hot spring district the next day, note that the inn is about an 8-minute taxi ride from Izu-Kogen Station; there is no free shuttle service.
However, since staying at Ryokan Uchiyama is about “experiencing the inn itself,” we recommend the following itinerary for the second day: check out → drive to Ito → visit Tokai-kan and the hot spring district → then continue on toward Nagoya.
Recommended for:
- Those who want to make the stay itself the purpose of their trip
- Those who want to experience Japanese ryokan culture
- Those who want to enjoy a private hot spring
- Those who want to enjoy top-class cuisine that embodies the essence of Izu
- Those who prioritize a “special experience” over budget
Day 2 | Izu Kogen → Tokai-kan
After a leisurely morning at the inn, we’ll head from Izu Kogen to downtown Ito.
One place you’ll want to stop by in Ito is “Sweet House Wakaba,” a long-established coffee shop founded in 1948.
Its specialty is handmade soft-serve ice cream, which has been served since 1959. You can also enjoy traditional Japanese sweets like anmitsu. Currently selected as one of Tabelog’s “Top 100 Cafés 2026,” it is one of Ito’s most iconic, long-established cafés.
Located in Chuo-cho, about a 7-minute walk from Ito Station, it’s a great spot to stop by while strolling through the city on your way from the station.
After enjoying some sweets, head along the Matsukawa River.
Your destination is Tōkaikan, a historic building that epitomizes Ito Onsen.
Tōkaikan is a three-story wooden hot spring inn built in Shōwa 3 (1928). It is currently preserved as a tourism and cultural facility by the City of Ito.The interior features hinoki cypress, Japanese cedar, and unique “odd-shaped wood,” and intricate designs—visible in the corridors, staircases, and entrances to guest rooms—still showcase the craftsmanship of the artisans.
On a stroll through the Ito Onsen district, you can get a sense of what Ito was like in the past—not just through the buildings, but also through the streetscape itself.
This is a chance to enjoy “what remains of this land” itself—something quite different from the unique cafes and shops you’ll find in Izu Kogen.
From here, you can choose your own pace for the trip
If you’re thinking of stopping by on your way from Yokohama to Nagoya, even one night in Izu is plenty of time to enjoy the area.
However, if—unlike this trip—you want to enjoy the atmosphere of Izu itself by visiting unique shops, strolling through the hot spring town, and relaxing at your inn, rather than just “seeing a few tourist spots along the way,” staying for two nights will make a significant difference in your overall travel experience.
For a one-night stay, make the most of “Izu Kogen + Ito.”
If you stay two nights, you can add another day to enjoy hot springs, dining, and shopping, and leave your car behind to take a leisurely stroll through the town.
If you’re rushing to Nagoya, stay one night. If you want to make Izu itself one of the main goals of your trip, stay two nights.
That approach seems just right for this route.
We recommend deciding on your length of stay based on your own travel pace.
If you’d like to ask a local for advice, we offer free consultations.
Please feel free to contact us!