The weather was against us this Golden Week in Japan. We went to Izu Peninsula for 5 days. Ill split the trip up into days...So, day 1:
We went by ferry from Shimizu to Toi. It took an hour and was pretty convenient.
We were going to cycle to a camp site near Matsuzaki, but decided, because of the miserable weather, that we would go by car.
Our first stop was Saifukuji 最福寺 temple, very nice people, gave me a temple stamp and talked a bit about Izu.
After that we went to Toidarumadera 土肥達磨寺 a bit of a rip off, they charged 500 yen for a pretty small daruma experience, and the shop was huge. Got another stamp though.
We got to Matsuzaki and the rain started and we found a nice Fish restaurant by the sea. There are so many fish restaurants in Izu!
(see 1st link below)
After the nice food we went to a hot spring (onsen) nearby. There are SO many onsen in Izu and the public ones in each town are only 600 yen. Pretty good. This was the first onsen...
It was small and was not genuine hot water from the ground, but cheap and right by the sea (see link 2).
After that we finally made it to the camp site. Izu is really lumpy. I would not recommend planning to cycle far on the peninsular. We were very glad we went by car, Toi town to Matsuzaki would have been torture to ride in one day. Especially in the rain. Next up, day 2
Related link
● http://mingei-sabou.com/
● http://www.town.nishiizu.shizuoka.jp/kakuka/kankou/kankou/onsen/nagisa.html