Tokyo to Izu: getting to Higashiizu

Odoriko and Saphir Odoriko

Board the direct Odoriko at Tokyo station for Izu-Atagawa or Izu-Inatori. Both towns are on the Izu Kyuko line south of Ito, and both appear in the October–November 2026 limited-express timetable. All limited-express seats are reserved. Saphir Odoriko also serves these two stations, with Green-class accommodation throughout; its higher supplement buys a different train and seat, with the same coastal arrival towns.

For a connecting journey, take a Shinkansen that calls at Atami, then travel down the Ito line and continue onto the Izu Kyuko line. Ito is the junction between the two railways; the onward service determines whether you change there. Some other services require a change at Izu-Kogen. Use a local for Izu-Okawa, Izu-Hokkawa and Katase-Shirata, which the express trains pass. Atagawa has the garden beside the railway and hotels downhill by the sea; Inatori and the smaller coastal towns have portside or hillside stays.

Tickets and fares

An Odoriko journey costs the paper base fare plus a limited-express supplement. Adult one-way ordinary-seat fares include both when the express ticket is bought before boarding.

The onboard Odoriko supplement is ¥2,640 (about US$17). For Saphir, the ordinary-period supplement is ¥6,260 (about US$40) in Green class or ¥8,660 (about US$55) in Premium Green, each added to the base fare. Seasonal adjustments apply. Saphir express tickets must be bought before boarding.

Coastal local trains

Suica, PASMO and compatible IC cards work at all sixteen stations from Ito to Izukyu-Shimoda: touch in and out at the readers. Izukyu no longer sells Suica cards. Pay the local rail fare with an IC card. For Odoriko or Saphir, buy a limited-express ticket as well. Resort 21 runs as a non-reserved local train with no extra supplement, though only some local departures use its KINME or Black Ship trainsets.

The two- or three-day Izukyu Discovery Pass is for foreign tourists visiting Japan. It covers the Ito–Shimoda local and rapid trains, vacant ordinary Odoriko seats within that stretch, and one Shimoda Ropeway return. On a coastal stay, pass holders pay for Tokyo travel, Saphir and reserved Odoriko seats in addition to the pass.

Stations and hotel approaches

Traveling south, Higashiizu’s stations run Izu-Okawa, Izu-Hokkawa, Izu-Atagawa, Katase-Shirata and Izu-Inatori. Katase and Shirata share a station; Kawazu and Izukyu-Shimoda lie farther south. Atagawa’s coast is downhill from the railway, Okawa’s inns stand above it, and Inatori’s seafront hotels are beyond the port.

Isaribi asks dinner guests arriving after 18:00 to contact the inn; dinner’s latest start is 18:30. Atagawa Ocean Resort requires dinner-plan guests to arrive before 18:00. Reserve meals and the station ride when arranging a coastal hotel stay.

Local return journeys

Local trains follow the coast through Atagawa, Inatori and Kawazu to Shimoda. These daily services connect a coastal hotel with the river walk or Shimoda’s old town:

Tokyo-bound journeys continue north through Ito and Atami or use a reserved express.

From Izu-Inatori, the Animal Kingdom route bus climbs inland to the park. During Hosono’s October 30–November 29, 2026 autumn event, a direct Hosono Highlands bus runs on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; weekday visitors need a car or taxi.

Driving and hire

Route 135 follows the east coast. From the coastal railway, drivers turn inland for Hosono or the Kawazu waterfall gorge. Hosono has no event bus on weekdays. From Route 135 the Hosono entrance is about fifteen minutes by road, and event parking is free. Isaribi’s own approach is narrow and steep, so the short distance from the main road needs care.

US visitors collecting a car need a valid 1949 Geneva-format International Driving Permit and a passport. Toyota also accepts Japanese licenses and the specified national licenses accompanied by the required Japanese translation and passport. Arrange the qualifying documents before collecting a car.

These are national non-Tokyo basic tariffs; the branch, model and peak dates can change the booking amount. Basic insurance has limits, deductibles and exclusions. Double Protection includes the non-operation-charge waiver under its conditions. Fuel normally needs replenishing before return. Reserve a conventional hire car before arrival when driving is essential.

Kawazu as a day trip from Tokyo

From Tokyo, Shimoda-bound trains reach Kawazu for the blossom-lined river through town. Walk from the station to Yakata Bridge and follow the banks inland, returning through town for the journey north. Kawazu is two local stops south of Inatori, with Imaihama-Kaigan between them.

An overnight stay on the coast leaves the next morning free for the river. The Kawazu access options include a private car trip with hotel pickup in Tokyo. For an independent visit to the Seven Waterfalls, take the bus inland from Kawazu station; the gorge is a wooded, stepped walk beyond the town.