Izu Peninsula
Itō
After Mount Fuji and the lakes we head for the Izu Peninsula where our first overnight was at the michi no eki at Itō. This was at Marine City which was a big tourist destination with a marina, shops, restaurants and bars and an onsen and it was here that we first saw a sign saying that people with tattoos were not allowed into the onsen in Japan -its gangsters that have tattoos.
The Izu peninsula is located where several tectonic plates meet so there are potential natural hazards such as earthquakes. So not surprising to see signs indicating where to go in the even of a tsunami.
The Izu peninsula is located where several tectonic plates meet so there are potential natural hazards such as earthquakes. So not surprising to see signs indicating where to go in the even of a tsunami.
Shimoda
Replica black ship at Shimoda
Shimoda - a very pleasant small fishing town near the southern end of the peninsula which is historically significant as the port at which American Admiral Perry brought his fleet in 1853 and 1854 to ‘promote’ his demands for a trade treaty with the U.S. The ‘Black Ships’ in which he travelled are still celebrated in an annual festival, and one modern version plied the harbour for tourists.
We parked in a road station near the harbour and explored briefly before finding a small bar where a rather surprised barman provided beer, a snack of tofu covered with a dressing of garlic and chives, and some slightly stilted conversation. This is the sort of bar we have been searching for - and generally failing to find - all week.
We parked in a road station near the harbour and explored briefly before finding a small bar where a rather surprised barman provided beer, a snack of tofu covered with a dressing of garlic and chives, and some slightly stilted conversation. This is the sort of bar we have been searching for - and generally failing to find - all week.
Perry Street Shimoda
Perry Street Shimoda
Bar in Shimoda
Lake Ippeki
Ippeki Lake is not far from Itō and we walked the very pleasant 4km lake circumference, there really was not much there at all but a nice sunday morning walk.
En route we came across a group of oldies setting up a picnic and having a quick religious ceremony for starters. We were also passed by some lads in baseball gear who had been sent - as a punishment? - to get some proper exercise. There were lots of fishermen in boats but we are not sure what they were after because if you just stood by the bank and looked as if you might throw some food in then a bunch of huge catfish and some wonderfully coloured carp would gather in droves.
Dogashima
Dogashima was a pleasant surprise - a small fishing town (now in part very touristy) with a series of picturesque offshore islands, all made from undersea volcanic eruptions. There are also a set of sea caves and in one a very large hole in the top allows a view up to the sky from a tour boat, or a view down onto the boat from above.
We had been hot and sticky - there had been clear skies for days and temperatures well into the twenties - so we sought out an onsen (bathhouse/hot spring). The first one was closed on Mondays - almost the story of our outing lives. The second proved tricky to find - Sheila eventually going on foot - but proved to be a winner: small open air pools (separate for men and women) right at the edge of the cliffs with wonderful views over the sea, no wonder it featured on the tourist posters. ¥600 each and worth every penny.
Our onsen ticket
We overnighted in the carpark of the abandoned orchid park in Dogashima as there was no michi no eki nearby - quiet but rather plagued by mosquitoes, so we were up early and on the road via Fugo beach where another series of small islands and sea-cut arches provided good scenery.
We headed north to take the ferry from Toi to Shimizu - only because we could and it would be our only ferry of the trip. We had seen it on the journey down but had no idea as to timetables or even cost but when we got to the harbour we realised that we had lucked out by arriving just in time for the boat: it left two minutes after we got there. It was ¥5000 (£30) plus another ¥1000 for the pair of us to use the ‘Ocean Deck’ where you got a better view and a free cup of coffee. There were a couple of excellent signs for foreign passengers, presumably word-for-word translations from the Japanese.
The trip was just over an hour and we spent most of that chatting to a Japanese lady (one of an old folks outing - most of the vehicles on the ferry were coaches for them). She had some English so we were able to make ourselves understood (or perhaps failed to realise when we had not) and Sheila’s iPad was useful to show them our local motorhome, house in UK, grandchildren etc.
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Japan Intoduction
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Tokyo
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Shrines & temples
Japan Intoduction
Our vehicle
Overnight stops
Food
Tokyo
Central Honshū
Western Honshū
Kyoto
Shrines & temples
