
Tokaikan Former Ryokan
Hours: 9:00 to 21:00
Closed: Third Tuesday of each month, January 1
Admission: 200 yen
Closed: Third Tuesday of each month, January 1
Admission: 200 yen
Ito (ˆÉ“Œ, Itō) is a famous hot spring resort town on the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula. Due to its easy accessibility from Tokyo, the town is partially quite built-up, but also offers some historic buildings in its center, such as the Tokaikan, a historic, former ryokan open to the public. Outside the town center, Ito offers quite impressive natural scenery with its cliffy coast and hilly terrain.
About ten kilometers south of central Ito is Izu Kogen, a popular villa district and sightseeing destination with many small museums, restaurants, Mount Omuro and the beautiful Jogasaki Coast.
Ito can be accessed directly from Tokyo Station by the JR Odoriko limited express (100 minutes, about 4500 yen one way, 1 train/hour) or by frequently departing trains from Atami (20 minutes, 330 yen by local train). The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.
Ito Station is located in the city center of Ito. It is the border station between the JR Ito Line that leads north to Atami and the Izukyu Railway that leads south to Shimoda. Because the Izukyu Railway is not JR, the Japan Rail Pass is not valid south of Ito. However, the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass are valid also south of Ito thanks to a special agreement.
The train is useful to travel between Ito and Izu Kogen, five stations south of Ito (20 minutes, 670 yen one way), but many of the area's sightseeing spots are not located near train stations. Fortunately, the bus service around Ito is quite good, and there are two bus passes offered for Ito: the Izu Kogen Jogasaki 1-Day Pass costs 800 yen and covers the Izu Kogen area and the Jogasaki Coast, while the Ito Izu Kogen 2-Day Pass costs 1500 yen and additionally includes central Ito. The passes can be purchased at Izu Kogen Station and Ito Station, respectively.
How to get to and around the Izu Peninsula
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