1
Miyoshi Sushi

Located in front of Ito Station, this sushi restaurant is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before heading out for sightseeing. The cozy, family-run restaurant has an at-home atmosphere where the owner is happy to talk to you, making it easy to stop by even if you are a woman alone. Ito is known for its delicious local fish, and Miyoshi Sushi is right at the top of the list. The sushi, made mainly from carefully selected seasonal local fish, is so good that it will make even the most discerning locals swoon. The lunch nigirizushi is reasonably priced at 1,080 yen, but you can enjoy sushi made with fresh local fish caught that day. It is recommended to visit early in the day, as the restaurant is crowded with both locals and tourists during lunchtime.

Miyoshi Sushi

• 1-16-15 Yugawa, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• 1 minute walk from JR Ito Station
• 12:00 - 20:30 (L.O. 20:00)
• Thursdays
• 0557-37-4487

2
Matsukawa promenade

The Matsukawa River runs through the center of Ito City. The Matsukawa River Trail stretches from the Nagisa Bridge at the mouth of the river upstream to the left bank. From Nagisa Bridge, the path along the river continues for about 1.5 km to Oka Bridge near Otonashi Shrine, known as the meeting place of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yaehime.
Walking along the cobblestone pavement, you will see a row of willow trees, followed by a row of cherry blossom trees, which is full of flavor. Flocks of ducks and graceful carp can be seen swimming in the river. In spring, the riverside is tinged pink with higanzakura and someiyoshino cherry trees, making the area very colorful. In summer, the willows sway in the wind, creating a cool and refreshing scene that will lighten your heart. At night, the Tokai-kan is illuminated (for a limited time only), creating a different scene each day and night with the changing scenery of the four seasons, including the romantic atmosphere of a hot spring resort.

Matsukawa River Walkway

• Along Matsukawa River, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• 5 min. walk from JR Ito Station
• 0557-37-6105（Ito Tourist Association)

3
Otonashi Shrine

Near Oka Bridge, the final stop on the Matsukawa promenade, is Otonashi Shrine, dedicated to Toyotamahime no Mikoto, the god of easy childbirth and matchmaking. It is said to be the place where Minamoto no Yoritomo and Yaehime had their tryst, and many women visit the shrine to pray for the fulfillment of their love in honor of this Heian-era love story.
The number of ladles displayed at the shrine indicates that the shrine is believed in by many people. The giant shii and tabu trees, designated as natural monuments by the city and said to be over 1,000 years old, that tower over the temple grounds are also a sight to behold.
On November 10 of each year, the "Shiritsumi Matsuri," an annual festival known as one of the strangest festivals in Japan, is held, featuring a sumo wrestling tournament and traditional performing arts.

Otonashi Shrine

• 1-12 Otonashimachi, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• 15 min. walk from JR Ito Station
• Free of charge
• 0557-36-2700
• None

4
Kuzumi-jinja Shrine

Kuzumi-jinja Shrine is located right in front of Ito City Hall. It is an old shrine that is mentioned in a list of shrines dating back to the Heian period (794-1185) and is believed to be the guardian deity of the Ito family, a powerful family in Ito City. The most striking feature of the shrine grounds, which are thickly covered with trees, is a large camphor tree, designated as a national natural monument. The tree is said to be more than 1,000 years old, and its majestic presence is worthy of being called a "sacred tree. In front of the giant tree, take a walk around the tree in peace and quiet. As you look at the sacred tree from various angles, you will feel the power of the giant camphor tree flowing through your body. Also, pay attention to the hand-watering basin at the entrance of the shrine. The round concrete pillar supporting the roof was made from a torii gate that collapsed during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. This is another glimpse into the history of the shrine.

Kuzumi-jinja Shrine

• 1-16-40 Babacho, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• 20 minute walk from JR Ito Station
• Free of charge
• 0557-37-1050
• None

5
Anjin Memorial Park

At the mouth of the Matsukawa River, which flows through the center of downtown Ito into Sagami Bay, there is an open view of the ocean. In a corner of the river is a small park called Anjin Memorial Park. It was built to commemorate Anjin Miura (Englishman William Adams), a diplomatic advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who built Japan's first Western-style sailing ship here in Ito. The park is also a place where visitors can enjoy art, with a bust of Anjin Miura by Kenji Shigeoka, a local sculptor and representative of Japan, and a monument to the San Buena Ventura, the ship that Anjin built. Visitors can learn about Anjin's accomplishments and recall the era in which he lived while gazing beyond the statue at a seascape that is unchanged from 400 years ago.
Across the Matsukawa River from Anjin Memorial Park is Nagisa Park, which is also dotted with Shigeoka's works. The view of the Boso and Miura Peninsulas and the sculptures create a unique landscape.

Anjin Memorial Park

• 6 Nagisa-machi, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• 15 minutes walk from JR Ito Station
• 0557-36-0111 (Ito City Tourism Section)

6
Sightseeing and Cultural Property Tokaikan

Walking along the Matsukawa promenade from Anjin Memorial Park, you will see the tourist and cultural property Tokai-kan, a classic hot spring ryokan that opened in 1928 and was donated to Ito City after its closure in 1997. It is now open for tours as a tourist Property where visitors can appreciate the beauty of the valuable wooden architecture of the Showa period. Since the founder was a lumber merchant, the interior of the museum is lavishly decorated with high-grade timbers such as cypress, ebony, and ebony, and you can see craftsmen's skillful work everywhere. The design of the building shows the high level of craftsmanship of the time.

Public hot spring where you can enjoy the hot spring atmosphere of the Showa era

A Public hot spring from those days still exists in the building. Open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, visitors can enjoy bathing while feeling the atmosphere of a luxury ryokan that symbolized Ito in the Showa period. The bathhouse, all tiled, has a nostalgic atmosphere. The private spring water pours from the mouth of a carved Chinese lion. The alkaline simple spring water, which is gentle to the skin, will heal your body.

Sightseeing and Cultural Property Tokaikan

• 12-10 Higashimatsubara, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 7 minutes walk from JR Ito Station
• Open from 9:00 to 21:00
  Bathing is only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays from 11:00-19:00.
• The 3rd Tuesday of the month (if the Tuesday is a national holiday, the museum will be open on the following Tuesday), January 1
• Admission: Adults 200 yen, children (elementary to junior high school) 100 yen
  Admission: Adults 500 yen, Elementary school students and younger 300 yen
• 0557-36-2004
• None
• From mid-September to late December 2024, the exterior walls (north and west sides) of the Tokai-kan will be under construction. During the construction period, scaffolding will be set up on the city road (Higashimatsubara-cho Route 4), so visitors will not be able to see the exterior of the building.

7
Izu Gelateria Capri

A short bicycle ride from Tokaikan, this gelateria is located at a corner of the Kinema-dori scramble intersection. The gelato is made by hand, one by one, from the preparation of the ingredients, and around seven kinds of gelato are always available, each with a particular flavor of the ingredients, such as fruits and milk. In addition to the milk, chocolate, and raw caramel flavors sold year-round, seasonal flavors using seasonal ingredients are also available one after another. The rich yet refreshing taste and smooth texture are truly exquisite. Cups and cones are available, and you can enjoy them while taking a break on one of the benches in the storefront, or while continuing your stroll.

Izu Gelateria Capri

• 1-20 Matsukawa-cho, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 7 minutes walk from JR Ito Station
• Weekdays 12:00-18:00
  Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays: 11:00-18:00
  Hours may change during summer and events.
• Tuesdays, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays
• 0557-38-7230