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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Izunokuni
伊豆の国
Half a day for the Nirayama reverberatory furnace and the ropeway to Mt. Katsuragi; one night if you want an onsen stay. Not a base for the Izu Peninsula.
Izunokuni is a small city in central Izu Peninsula, formed by merging three towns. Its main draw is the Nirayama reverberatory furnace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the Katsuragi Ropeway for views of Mount Fuji on clear days. The city also has several hot-spring inns. Most travellers pass through on the Izu-Hakone Line between Mishima and Shuzenji or Shimoda.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 伊豆の国
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (cold, less Fuji visibility)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–10,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥400–600 |
| Ramen or soba | ¥800–1,200 |
| Beer (can at konbini) | ¥250–350 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥2,000–2,500 |
| Izu-Hakone Line one ride | ¥200–500 |
| Nirayama reverberatory furnace entry | ¥500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NRT · Narita International Airport
- About 2.5 h by Narita Express to Tokyo, then Shinkansen to Mishima and Izu-Hakone Line to Izu-Nagaoka.
- HND · Tokyo Haneda Airport
- About 1.5 h by Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, then Shinkansen to Mishima and Izu-Hakone Line.
Typical fares
- Mishima → Izu-Nagaoka, Izu-Hakone Line
- about ¥400, about 15 min (check)
- Taxi Izu-Nagaoka station → Nirayama furnace
- ¥1,500–2,000
- Katsuragi Ropeway round trip
- about ¥1,200 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The Izu-Hakone Line connects the three former towns (Nirayama, Izu-Nagaoka, Ohito). Buses are infrequent; walking or a taxi between the station and sights is practical. A rental car gives flexibility for the wider peninsula.
See and do
Known for
- Nirayama reverberatory furnace (UNESCO)
- Katsuragi Ropeway and Mt. Katsuragi views
- Izu-Nagaoka onsen area
- Ruins of Nirayama Castle
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mishima | Izu-Hakone Line, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Shuzenji Onsen | Izu-Hakone Line to Shuzenji, then bus, about 30 min total | About 45 min |
| Atami | Izu-Hakone Line to Atami, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Shimoda | Izu-Hakone Line to Shimoda, about 1 h 10 min | About 1.5 h |
| Ito | Izu-Hakone Line to Ito, about 50 min | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Izu-Nagaoka station area
- Closest to the ropeway and furnace; several ryokan and a few budget hotels.
- Nirayama area
- Quieter, near the furnace ruins; fewer dining options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- The Katsuragi Ropeway may close in high winds or for maintenance; check the official site before going.
- Nirayama reverberatory furnace is a small site; 30 minutes is enough.
- Onsen ryokan often require dinner reservations; book ahead.
Very safe. The main risks are the ropeway in bad weather and the occasional wild boar near the hills; keep distance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Izunokuni yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nirayama reverberatory furnace (UNESCO)
- Katsuragi Ropeway and Mt. Katsuragi views
- Izu-Nagaoka onsen area
- Ruins of Nirayama Castle
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Izunokuni city official website: www.city.izunokuni.shizuoka.jp/
- Izunokuni tourist association (Japanese): izunotabi.com/
- Wikivoyage: Izunokuni, revision 5296520 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296520
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Izunokuni伊豆の国
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US has a consulate in Nagoya; most other countries: consulates-general in Osaka, embassies in Tokyo.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/izunokuni). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.