Central Izu Area | Shaped by the Amagi Mountains and Hot Spring Culture

中伊豆エリア

Nakaizu

Cities

Izu city…（Shuzenji・Amagi Yugashima, Nakaizu, Toi）
Izunokuni city…（Nagaoka, Ōhito, Nirayama）

Access

Car…personal or rental
Bus…Tokai or Izu Hakone
Train…Izuhakone Railway

About the Area

Located near the heart of the Izu Peninsula, the Central Izu area is embraced by the Amagi Mountain Range, with peaks rising over 1,000 meters.
Abundant rainfall brought by the surrounding seas has nurtured the region’s rich natural environment, giving rise to treasures such as Joren Falls, Japan’s finest wasabi, and local game meat, all gifts of the forest.

In Izu-Nagaoka, traces of the area’s former hot spring entertainment district remain, along with living traditions of performing arts. Meanwhile, Shuzenji is home to the oldest hot spring in Izu, said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi, where the waters continue to flow to this day. The area is also known for its historic inns, long cherished by cultural figures such as Yasunari Kawabata and Taro Okamoto.

Situated along the historic Amagi Pass route, Central Izu has long fostered the traditions, literature, and hot spring culture of the Izu Peninsula. It is a place where mountains and water, hot springs and culture exist in harmony, offering a deep and authentic experience of Izu.

SPECIALITY

Blessed with pure water and rich forests, Central Izu is known for its mountain cuisine shaped by nature.
The area is famous for wasabi, the largest producer in Japan, along with game dishes from the Amagi Mountains and fragrant log-grown shiitake mushrooms.
Abundant water, symbolized by Joren Falls, brings out the natural flavors of these ingredients.
Discover the authentic “mountain delicacies” of Central Izu, nurtured by nature and tradition.

NATURE

Surrounded by the 1,000-meter peaks of the Amagi Mountains
This unique geography makes it one of the rainiest areas in Japan.
Known for its lush forests, rivers, and waterfalls shaped by volcanic landscapes.