Walking up along the route 135 from Hatoba, in about 15 minutes maybe, you will see fancy houses in yellow or blue. That is the Ito Marine Town, originally for a drivers’ rest station, which has become one of the tourist spots in Ito. It has a natural hot spa facility, tour boat station and lots of souvenir shops and restaurants.
I took the tour boat there. You can choose from among two types, Haruhira-maru or Youmin Pirates. I took a ride on the dolphin ship of Haruhira-maru. Cute isn’t it ?

The inside of the ship is spacious enough. It can contain 90 people, goes the distance of 11.4km in about 45 minutes. What is special about this Dolphin Ship is that you can see fishes under the sea through the window. Be sure it does not mean you can always see them. It depends on how clear the water is. I was not lucky enough, then. Cloudy and murky for the unexpected wild waves caused by a gust of wind.

The tour guide lady was very kind and generous enough to take us another point for fish-seeing and it was paid off in a way because we all could see the shadows of fishes !＾＾

First, we headed for Teisijima Island. Actually, this is the uninhabited island. Only fishermen come for their tremendous dreams. I understand their ambitions as a fishing lover.＾＾

Next comes the Shiofuki-iwa, literally means a spouting rock. The spouting scene is to be made through a cave and can be seen depending on the tides, ebb and flow.

The final destination is Manaita-iwa on which a statue of Nichiren is. Nichiren sect is one of the religious schisms of Buddhism. He was exiled to Manaita-iwa by the Kamakura Shogunate for the excessive propagandism. Manaita means the cutting board in Japanese. As it shows, the rock is almost flat and goes underwater in high tide. He had been almost under the water when a fisherman found and helped him. Now, it is said that those who pray to it between Yobojima Islands can live out their dreams. I did, of course though I won’t confess what I’ve wished.＞＜

A lucky tourist may see a school of dolphins and flying fish on its way !

So much for my story about Ito. There are more attractive sightseeing spots such as Izu Kogen Plateau, Omuroyama, Komuroyama and the Lake Ippekiko. I’ll report them in the near future !

Please find the tourist information in the English website of Ito Tourist Association
.

Enjoy your travel !＾＾


Ito Marine Town
Admission ： Free
Open Hours ： Shops from 9:00 – 18:00, Restaurants from 11:00 – 20:30

The Dolphin Ship of Haruhira-maru
Departure time ： 9:40, 10:40, 11:40, 12:40, 13:40, 14:40, 15:40, (16:40)
Tour Fare ： ¥1600 for adults／¥1200 for school children／¥800 for elementary school children
Tour Time ： About 45 minutes

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

After leaving K’s House Ito Onsen, I strolled along the walkway by the river toward the road on the beach. About 5 minute walk from K’s House took me there, Route 135.

The view from there was spectacular ! The water, sky and the wind. They seemed like the world of rainbow to me ! Can you see the Hatsushima Island far out in the sea ? That is one of the spots where I wanna go someday !＾＾
I was meant to turn left to “Marine Town”, the roadside station to take a tour boat but I found myself fairly starved. I could have had lunch in the Marine Town but I had another idea. I remembered a new seafood restaurant, carried on by the Ito Fisheries Cooperative had just opened in September !

Turning to the right along the route 135, I walked another 5 minutes and found the new restaurant, “Hatoba”. Many cars in the parking lot. I stepped in it. Very clean and fresh inside. Crisp voices by the store staff here and there. I took a seat, opened the menu, and ordered a lunch set of Sashimi. They usually have 4 varieties on the menu. Better to show these pictures than to explain them, right ? Be sure that you can’t take quite the same in the picture because fishes will be changed depending on the catches of the day. If you understand Japanese, you can find the menu of the day from this website.

Hatoba opens from 11:00 and will be closed upon a complete sold out. Generally around 14:00. When I visited there, they have 200 sets of Sashimi, Fried Fishes or Domburi. The store manager told me that they would try to serve more for tourists.
This is the information on Sep 22nd, 2010.

Ryoshi Meshiya “Hatoba”

Open Hours　： 11:00 – around 14:00
Closed ： on Tuesdays ( not yet fixed )
Lunch Menu ( 200 sets in total／weekday, 300 sets／weekend)
Set of Hatoba・・・¥2000 ／Sashimi and Fries of local fishes with rice and miso soup
Set of Sashimi・・・¥1500／Sashimi of local fishes with rice and miso soup
Set of Fried Fishes・・・¥1300／Fried Fishes of local fishes with rice and miso soup
Ryoshi Don・・・¥980／Bowl of rice topped with Sashimi. Come with miso soup

Mind that Hatoba has just opened up. The information above is the one when I went there. They will try to change for the better, as it’s been so popular among visitors, including the open hour, menu and the price.
I guess you can eat fresh fish everywhere in Ito but if you like extra fresh fishes, devote your precious lunch time at Hatoba !

After having fabulous time at Hatoba, I walked back along Route 135, passed the bridge, to the next destination, Marine Town. See the yellow house in the picture ? That’s it !

Next time, I’ll report “Ito Marine Town”.

Have a good day !＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

Taking over the traditional Ryokan Inn of 100 years old, a new service has been started, since August, 2010, to offer low-cost rooms to visitors. 19 rooms, up to 80 guests at a maximum. You’d better make a booking for it as they have quite a lot of guests every day.
The check-in desk is just beyond the doorway. You don’t have to worry about the language because all staff there speak English ! Actually, I heard half of the guests are from abroad. Just step in it and say hello and your name. Everything will be all right !

The internal equipments wouldn’t betray your expectations. Sufficiently eligible for the brand of “Cultural Property”. Details are as follows:
Check-in from 15:00 until 22:00 ／check out by 11:00 ／Prepaid by Japanese Yen or Credit Card. Dinner and breakfast are NOT served. Even in case you arrive earlier on the day, don’t worry. They keep your baggage from 8:00 in the morning, or until 22:00 on the day you check out. The front desk is open 8:00 – 22:00.

Private Room for 4 guests

Now, let me show you around. First of all, there are 2 types of rooms, private or shared. Even private rooms are not expensive here. For couples, families, or a group of friends, each person costs only from ¥3,400 for a room. If you like to have a relaxed time in a room of cultural heritage, go ahead.＾＾

Dormitory for 4 guests

To save more money, especially if you travel alone, or if you’d like communications with others, I’d recommend you the dormitories. From ¥2,950 per person. Partly partitioned with screens. Basically men and women won’t be separated but women-only rooms could be available if you ask for it. Make friends with many visitors on this occasion !

Now, time for dinner ! Wanna eat out ? There are good restaurants around K’s House but for those who don’t like to cost much for dinner, why don’t you cook by yourself ? There is a good kitchen with a fridge, microwave, rice cooker and a toaster just as in the picture. Free of charge, of course. Some seasonings such as soy-sauce, salt and sugar have been prepared. Laundry machines are also equipped beside the kitchen.

After dinner, I’ll bet you feel like a good bath. Nothing is more than Onsen hot spring in Ito. No exception here at K’s House. 100% natural hot spring is expecting you ! Separated for ladies and gentlemen. Another space for communication, right ? Private bath is also available if you prefer it.

Before going to bed, make the best of this occasion and have a chat with someone, or watch TV, or check your e-mail and tourist information on the internet. Not bad to sit on the wooden veranda by the river to think about yourself. You can do all of them free ! Help yourself to tea and coffee in the lounge.

Left：Tokaikan ／ Right：K's House

Please feel free to contact them in English through this official website. Only 7 minutes from Ito Station, of cultural property, 100% natural hot spring and extremely economical. What would you like more ?

K’s House Ito Onsen
Access ： 7 minute walk from Ito Station
Room Rates　： See the official website
Open Hours　： Front Desk 8:00 – 22:00
※ You can go out after 22:00

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

Last week, I went to Ito City to find out the information of a new accommodation. What if you can stay overnight in a very historical hostel of cultural property with very reasonable or economical rates ? Sounds good ?

Before getting straight to the new hostel, maybe I’d better start with Ito Station lest you should get lost. Ito is one of the most popular sightseeing spots for foreign visitors in Japan, especially for its exclusive Onsen hot springs. 25 minutes and ¥320 from Atami by JR Ito Line, and the starting station of Izukyu Line that I introduced last time with Izu Dream Pass. It is a resort with the beautiful sea and mountains. Izu Plateau is one of my favorites.

Now, first of all, I guide you to the definitely indispensable spot for you to save time and money ! That is, the information center of Ito City. It is just in front of the station, over the road, at the corner. Looking around from Ito Station, you will recognize it at a glance.＾＾ Oh, remember that Ito Tourist Association is on “Open ! Shizuoka Campaign“. You will have Omotenashi gift there until the end of November. If you still don’t know this campaign, click here ! !

When I went in there, two young ladies welcomed me. They speak some English and they have partly a Chinese staff. Of course they have good brochures in English, Chinese and Korean as in the picture. And what’s more, they help you make a booking for hotels and Inns. Be sure to drop at the tourist information center and get advised of the most efficient means of your tour.

Walk along this road

I talked with them for a while and got out of the office with a good map. Very simple to the hostel. Walk straight along the street right in front with your back to Ito Station, as far as the third traffic signal. Then look around to make sure that the bridge is in front of you and a very narrow but appealing alley is on your left. About 5 minutes from the station. Don’t step on the bridge. The alley is just before the bridge.

the narrow pathway

Now, follow the narrow pathway and you will soon find “Tokaikan”, the old historical architecture. Tokaikan was a forepassed Inn closed in 1997, and was reborn as a tourist cultural facility in 2001. You can find old Japanese architectural style in there.

Historical architecture,

There is also a historical architecture next to Tokaikan. That is it ! Maybe I should bring forth its name by now. “K’s House Ito Onsen” is that. An old established Inn was reborn as a low-cost hostel. This is the only one in Japan with 100% natural hot spring and of cultural property. Actually, it’s brought me unending surprises. If you can’t wait for the next report, please see the information from here.

K's House Ito Onsen

Next time, I’ll report K’s House Ito Onsen.

Enjoy Your Travel !＾＾

Ito Tourist Association – Good English website with English brochures.
Opened ： 9:00 – 17:00 every day
Tokaikan
Admission ：　¥200 for adults　／ ¥100 for children
Open hours　： 9:00 – 21:00
Closed ： the 3rd Tuesday of the month and the new year’s day
K’s House Ito Onsen
＊Details in the next report.＾＾

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾

Time never stop for my travel. I opened my mobile phone. It was after 13:00. Though I had made an unscheduled side-trip at Inubashiri Island, I had to take the train from Shimoda Station at 15:08. Off to Perry Road !
I passed before the Shimoda Park in 10 minutes from Inubashiri Island and more 10 minute walk took me to the narrow street along the stream as in the picture. That is the Perry Road. Old houses represented histories. Willows were draped over the stream and that made a nostalgic mood. Small shops and restaurants were along the cobbled street.

Strolling on the Perry Road and into a narrow alley, you will see the gate of Ryosenji Temple. Very quaint with the songs of cicadas. Passing through the gate, you will see the Ryosenji main hall just in front.

Commodore Perry signed up for Shimoda Treaty in this temple in 1854, under “Japan-US Treaty of Amity”. You can’t go inside of the temple for now, but you can see a nice exhibition room – Ryosenji Treasure Museum – in which collections of Perry and Black Ships are preserved. Lo-and-behold, all historical materials are real and original. No photocopies or duplicates. You can feel the very history in this museum.

I rushed for Izukyu Shimoda Station. I could have taken more time in Shimoda but I had a plan and I would strongly recommend you to follow it.
From Izukyu Shimoda Station, you can take a very unique train. Of course, with the Dream Pass, you can take it with no extra charge. The train’s name is “Resort 21 Kurofune ( Black Ship ) Train”. Available not every day. If you understand Japanese, please see the schedule from here. Kurofune Train is not the express. Just the same as the local train. So what is the difference ? You will see it very obvious from the picture below.＾＾

The first car with large windows

Others with ocean view seats

I got in the first car and took the seat of the second row. The windshield was just like a movie screen. 1.5 hour boarding to Atami was not so long as I could fall asleep, due to the ever-changing view.

Looking out into the sea, I was almost in a daydream until the conductor came for extra fare. Oh, yes, I needed to pay for some. Be sure, the Dream Pass is, in my case “Koganeji Route”, valid and effective only in Dream Ferry, Tokai Bus and Izukyu Line. Izukyu Line finishes at Ito Station. Operation from Ito to Atami is by JR Line. That is, you have to pay for it. I paid ¥320 to the conductor and realized the end of this tour.
Now, how do you like my ten-time reports about the Izu Dream Pass ? You make the most of it and find your own trip with Dream Pass !
Have a good day !＾＾

Perry Road & Ryosenji Temple
Access ： 10 minute walk from Izukyu Shimoda Station
Admission ： Free for the temple　／¥500 for Museum
Izu Dream Pass
Dream Ferry ／ Tokai Bus ／ Izukyu Line

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English website for sightseeing, always with you ! ＾＾