Coast, beaches and volcanoes
Lava cliffs, sea caves, white-sand beaches and the volcanic landscapes of the Izu Peninsula Geopark.
The peninsula was built by volcanoes and is still being shaped by the sea. Start with the geopark and its easiest sites, then pick a coast: the black lava cliffs of the east, the sandy beaches of Shimoda and Minami-Izu, or the quiet west coast with its sunsets over Suruga Bay.
Nishi-Izu by bus: Dogashima's sea caves, Koganezaki's golden cliffs and Matsuzaki
Izu's quiet west coast: boat trips into Tensodo cave, the tombolo at low tide, sunset at Cape Koganezaki and the old merchant town of Matsuzaki, with bus times from Shuzenji.
Izu Peninsula Geopark: five easy volcanic sites to see in a day or two
A UNESCO Global Geopark since 2018: Mount Omuro, the Jogasaki coast, Joren Falls, the Ryugu sea cave and Dogashima, with what to look for at each.
Jogasaki Coast: lava cliffs and the Kadowaki suspension bridge
A short walk along black volcanic cliffs between Izu-Kogen and Ito, with a 48-metre suspension bridge over the surf.
Kawazu Nanadaru: walking the Seven Waterfalls and the teahouses on the way
A forest trail of about one kilometre past seven waterfalls in the Kawazu valley, from the 30-metre Odaru to the loop bridge.
Cape Irozaki and the Irozaki sightseeing cruise
Izu's southern tip: a lighthouse, a shrine built into the cliff, and short boat trips past sea stacks and caves.
Ryugu Sea Cave: Shimoda's heart-shaped skylight
A sea-eroded cave whose collapsed roof forms a skylight about 50 metres across, heart-shaped when seen from the path above.
Hirizo Beach: Izu's boat-only snorkelling cove
A rocky cove near Cape Irozaki reached only by a five-minute boat ride from Nakagi in summer, with some of the clearest water in Izu.
South Izu beaches, part 1: easy sandy beaches for families
Long white-sand beaches with lifeguards, showers and parking: Shirahama Ohama, Kisami Ohama, Tatadohama, Yumigahama and Imaihama.
South Izu beaches, part 2: clear-water coves
Smaller beaches with famously clear water and rocks at the edges: Iritahama, Sotoura and Nabeta.
South Izu beaches, part 3: rocky coves for confident swimmers
Hirizo, Kumomi and the rocky west: snorkelling spots with few or no facilities, where you need to plan and take care.
Shirahama Ohama: Shimoda's great white beach
Shimoda's largest beach, with white sand, turquoise water and a torii on the rocks at its northern end.
Sotoura Beach: Shimoda's sheltered bay
A calm, enclosed bay close to Shimoda, good for paddling, kayaks and SUP when the open coast is rough.
Iwachi Beach: Matsuzaki's calm bay on the west coast
A small, shallow bay with white-walled inns that locals like to call Izu's 'Oriental Mediterranean'.
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in Shimoda
Why Shimoda's sheltered coves are ideal for a first SUP lesson, and what to expect.
Mount Omuro: a grassy volcano you can walk around
A perfectly round 580-metre volcano near Izu-Kogen: chairlift to the top, a one-kilometre crater rim walk and the February grass burning.
Osezaki: Kamiike pond, ancient junipers and Mount Fuji across the bay
A one-kilometre spit at the north-west tip of Izu with a freshwater pond beside the sea, a juniper forest and famous dive sites.
The Izu Peninsula Geopark for beginners: a volcanic island that crashed into Japan
How a chain of undersea volcanoes drifted north and joined Honshu, and where to see the evidence on the ground.