Though it’s just a short, two-hour train ride from central Tokyo, Higashi Izu feels like a far-flung fantasy realm. Getting out at Atagawa Station, travelers are welcomed by the warm steam billowing from the town’s many historic drilling towers; venture a little further and you’ll find a dramatic coastline, with cliffs plunging into the cerulean sea. Higashi Izu is serene and inviting, known for its healing springs, beach access and vast ocean views, with ashiyu foot baths spread across town.
It’s a place that holds onto tradition, taking pride in local festivals and crafts, while also embracing modernity. And thanks to a newly developed digital map service, which you can access online, exploring the magical onsen town has never been more hands-on or approachable. Here are some of the best things to do and see in the area.
A Sea of Lanterns At night, Higashi Izu transforms into a scene straight out of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away . Over 800 red lanterns across the onsen area of Atagawa light up to cast a warm, ethereal glow. The lights were just set up this April, and will be available year-round; they’ve yet to go viral online, so you can still enjoy the mystical spectacle without a crowd.
Surrounded by the sounds and scent of sea spray and steam, you can watch the city transform under a fiery glow each evening at twilight. The Moon Road Once a month, an otherworldly pathway opens up between the earth and the heavens in Higashi Izu: The Moon Road. The onsen are.