Shuzenji Onsen & the Izu Skyline

Shuzenji is a small onsen town in Izu City, about 20 km from Mishima and reached in 35 minutes on the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line, which terminates at Shuzenji Station; the trip from Tokyo takes roughly 2 hours including the Shinkansen transfer at Mishima. The town centers on Shuzenji Temple, founded in the early 9th century and associated with the priest Kobo Daishi, and the adjacent Katsura River, where the Chikurin no Komichi bamboo grove path and a row of stone footbaths line the water. A typical day trip starts with the walk from Shuzenji Station into the old town, a visit to Shuzenji Temple and its bell tower, then a stroll along the Katsura River through the bamboo grove, stopping at one of the free public footbaths along the way. Restaurants near the temple approach serve wasabi-based specialties, since the surrounding valleys are a wasabi-growing region, along with soba and river fish. For a longer day, the Izu Skyline toll road connects Shuzenji-area entrances to a scenic ridge route toward Atami and Ito, and local Tokai Bus service runs from Shuzenji to the Kawazu Nanadaru waterfalls in the Amagi mountains. March and April bring cherry blossoms along the Katsura River promenade, while October and November color the surrounding hillsides; the temple and bamboo grove are pleasant walks in any season and require no more than half a day at a relaxed pace.