With Valentine’s Day in February and White Day in March, the season of love is just around the corner! If you’re planning a romantic getaway with your special someone, how about a trip to the Izu Peninsula (伊豆半島)? Located about a 2-hour train ride from Tokyo, the peninsula is home to endless sapphire-blue sea views, stunning sunsets, beautiful flowers, rejuvenating hot springs, scrumptious seafood, and so much more.
With so many captivating attractions, you can spend days exploring the Izu Peninsula, but where to start? Here are our top five picks for romantic dating spots in the area:
① Take a Stroll Under the Kawazuzakura Cherry Blossoms
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival | Photo by photoAC
Fancy a romantic day frolicking amongst spring flowers? Then head on over to the Kawazu River where kawazuzakura (河津桜) flowers line a 4km stretch along the river. Kawazuzakura have a gorgeous deep pink colour, and are usually in bloom together with bright yellow nanohana (菜の花 canola or rapeseed blossoms), making for plenty of dreamy photo opportunities.
Take a romantic walk under a tunnel of kawazuzakura | Photo by photoAC
Strolling under a tunnel of cherry blossoms is definitely something to check off your couple travel bucket list, and it’ll be even more special in the month of February. Unlike regular someiyoshino cherry blossoms which bloom for only about a week in late March, kawazazakura are in bloom for up to a month, from early February to early March. It’s like these flowers were meant for lovers looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day enjoying the blossoms!
② Sunset at Dogashima
Izu Peninsula’s west coast has beautiful sunset spots | Photo by Carissa Loh
The sun sets in the west, so there’s no better place to enjoy magical and romantic sunset views than on the west coast of the Izu Peninsula. Home to some of Japan’s most beautiful sunsets, the Nishi-Izu area (西伊豆)—especially around Dogashima (堂ヶ島)—is renowned for its deep golden-orange sunsets.
The area offers many options of stunning vantage points from which you and your partner can leisurely gaze at the enchanting sunsets, when the setting sun dyes the sky and the sea a magnificent shade of orange as it sinks into the horizon. Some of the area’s best viewpoints include:
- Sanshirojima (三四郎島)
- Koganezaki (黄金崎)
- Obata Kaigan (大田子海岸)
Sunset at Dogashima | Photo by Carissa Loh
If you plan to spend a night at the Izu Peninsula, how about a stay at one of Dogashima’s seaside hot spring resorts? Many of them have outdoor hot springs from which you can enjoy the sunset while relaxing in the warm waters. Take romance to another level by feasting on a delectable seafood kaiseki (懐石 traditional multi-course Japanese meal) dinner.
③ Manifest Love at Koibito Misaki
Manifest long-lasting love at Koibito Misaki | Photo by photoAC
Whether you're still in the early stages of your relationship or contemplating popping the big question, another picturesque spot along the western coast of the Izu Peninsula is Koibito Misaki (恋人岬), which translates to “Lover’s Cape”. A popular dating spot among young people, it is said that ringing the bell three times while shouting the name of your beloved will make your love come true.
Take a walk to the tip of the cape | Photo by photoAC
Be prepared to put in some work though, as you will need to take a walk to get to the tip of the cape where the bell is located. Your hard work will be rewarded with amazing and expansive views of the sea, and on clear days, you can even bask in a beautiful view of Suruga Bay and Mount Fuji in the distance.
④ Stroll along Perry Road
Spend a romantic afternoon strolling along Perry Road | Photo by 下田市観光協会
If your date of choice is spending a relaxing afternoon café hopping and taking couple photos, then head on over to Perry Road (ペリーロード) in Shimoda City (下田市). Perry Road is a picturesque road that runs parallel to a canal, and is lined with willow trees that sway with the breeze.
Scenic spots are aplenty at Perry Road | Photo by 下田市観光協会
With a retro atmosphere comprising a mix of Western-style buildings and Japanese-style folk houses that have been converted into cafés or boutiques, this quaint and quiet road is the perfect place to take a romantic stroll or just chill and grab a coffee.
⑤ Ito Marine Town
Ito Marine Town is located by the sea | Photo by photoAC
What’s a trip to the Izu Peninsula without enjoying views of the sea? Next up, if you enjoy eating, shopping, and seaside scenery, then take a stop at the Roadside Station Ito Marine Town (道の駅 伊東マリンタウン) in Ito City (伊東市). This roadside station is characterised by its vibrant and eye-catching colourful buildings, which come in pinks, yellows, blues and more.
Colourful buildings at Ito Marine Town | Photo by photoAC
Here you and your special someone can enjoy Izu’s tasty seafood―such as seafood bowls overflowing with fresh fish and grilled seafood―as well as other popular local dishes and noodles. Take a sightseeing pleasure cruise along the coast, soak your feet in a 43m-long footbath (足湯), stroll along the seaside promenade, and end the day by being spoilt for gift choices at the souvenir shops.
SAPHIR ODORIKO: Travel to Izu in Style
Travel to Izu in style with the luxurious sightseeing train SAPHIR ODORIKO | Photo by JR East / Sue Lynn
Want to impress your significant other before getting to Izu? Consider checking out JR East’s luxurious resort train SAPHIR ODORIKO (サフィール踊り子), which debuted in March 2020. Running daily between Tokyo and Izukyu-Shimoda, the SAPHIR ODORIKO is a luxury sightseeing train that brings passengers from Tokyo to the Izu Peninsula in 2.5 hours, passing by dazzling views of the sapphire sea.
All seats are Green Car and Premium Green Car seats, so you’ll need to top up the Green Car/Premium Green Car seat fee of ¥5,150–¥7,470 if you want to ride this train with any JR East Pass.
Lavish leather seats in the Premium Green Car | Photo by JR East / Sue Lynn
Book a lavish Premium Green Car seat, a seat class positioned between Green and Gran Class, which can recline and swivel to face the windows.
Green Car Private Compartment rooms | Photo by JR East / Sue Lynn
Want some extra space and privacy for a romantic trip? Book a luxe and comfortable Green Car Private Compartment, which offers more intimate spaces, and are perfect special moments.
Access to the Izu Peninsula
From JR Tо̄kyо̄ Station (東京駅), take the Limited Express Odoriko to Izukyū-Shimoda Station (伊豆急下田駅) (2.5–3-hour train ride). Regular express and local trains on the Izukyuko Line are free to ride for JR TOKYO Wide Pass holders. At ¥10,180, the JR TOKYO Wide Pass is cheaper than the round-trip ride on the Limited Express Odoriko between Tokyo and Izukyū-Shimoda (¥12,360).
Enjoy Izu at Home with JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s Snack Box
If you're seeking another reason to explore these romantic spots in Izu but haven't made any travel plans yet, here's an exclusive way to enjoy Izu from the comforts of your home: gift your loved one an Izu-themed snack box from JAPAN RAIL CLUB! In collaboration with JR East Yokohama Branch Office, the “With Love, Izu” Omiyage Snack Box features yummy souvenirs from the area of Izu (such as the Izu Wasabi Pistachio and Shio Katsuo Udon Snack) as well as Valentine-themed snacks from all over Japan (heart-shaped prawn crackers, anyone?)!
Get started on your subscription journey with JAPAN RAIL CLUB by 29 February and enjoy savings of up to SGD55 (USD42) with these two promo codes—applicable when you subscribe to a quarterly (3-month) or bi-annually (6-month) plan with us — “IZUOFF3" or "IZUOFF6". Izu’nt this exciting?!
