Coastal Volcanos and Capybaras: A Day in Izu Kogen

Most people haven’t heard of the Izu Peninsula when they first start planning a trip to Japan, but it’s a region that should definitely be on your list. While I chose to base myself in the nearby seaside town of Ito, I quickly found that just a short distance away is a landscape that feels entirely different—peaceful, dramatic, and surprisingly rich in history—all at once.

This specific stretch of the eastern coast, known as Izu Kogen, feels like a world of its own. It’s where you’ll find Mt Omuro, a perfectly round, grass-covered volcano that watches over the area, and the Jogasaki Coast, where ancient lava meets the Pacific in a series of jagged cliffs.

And right in the middle of it all is Izu Shaboten Zoo—a strangely wonderful place where cacti and capybaras somehow make perfect sense together. Whether you are coming from a nearby town or visiting as a day trip from Tokyo, these three spots are a perfect way to see a more rugged side of Japan.

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Mt Omuro – Natures Matcha Bowl

My day started early with a local bus from Ito to Mt Omuro, a 4,000-year-old extinct volcano. I chose to visit here first to beat the crowds, and arriving about 15 minutes before the 9:00 am opening meant there were only a handful of other families waiting. In typical Japanese fashion, the ticket windows opened on the dot. We were greeted with such a warm welcome; the staff were genuinely excited to hear we’d come all the way from Australia.

After being directed to the chairlift (which isn’t nearly as scary as it looks!), we started the climb. About halfway up, we were treated to our first glimpse of Mt Fuji on a stunningly clear day.

A Landscape Carved by Lava

Getting to the top gives you a real sense of the scale of this place. The crater is about 300 meters across, and its unique “inverted bowl” shape is actually why the rest of the day’s itinerary exists. When Mt Omuro erupted 4,000 years ago, its lava flows reshaped this entire region, creating the Izu-Kōgen plateau and the rugged Jogasaki Coast we were headed to later. It’s now protected as a national natural monument, and standing on the rim, you can see why.

You can walk the entire circumference of the crater, which offers 360-degree views in every direction. Along the path, you’ll pass various statues and the Sengen Shrine, which is tucked right into the crater. Historically, it’s been a pilgrimage site for women seeking safe childbirth and family well-being, honoring the goddess of endurance and long life—which feels appropriate given the mountain has stood here for four millennia!

For those feeling adventurous, you can even walk down into the grassy center of the crater to play a game of archery. We opted for a slower pace, taking in the views from every angle before heading back down the chairlift with that beautiful view of Mt Fuji framed right in front of us again.

Izu Shaboten Zoo: Cacti and Capybaras

After around an hour at Mt Omuro, we wandered literally across the road to Izu Shaboten Zoo (AKA Izu Cactus Park). The zoo definitely lives up to its name, with cacti everywhere you look.

Pro Tip: At the ticket counter, we were asked if we had been to Mt Omuro. Because we had, we just had to show our tickets and we received a small discount on our zoo entry. If you aren’t planning to visit the mountain first, you can also [book your tickets online in advance here] to skip the queue and stay organized. Note: Don’t be confused if the booking page mentions ‘Nagoya’—I promise this is the correct link for the zoo in Izu Kōgen!

Wandering in, we quickly came across a petting zoo area with double gates. Then I saw them—capybara! A bit of a craze at the moment but a long-standing favorite of mine, these lovable rodents are even more endearing in person. Their hair is very thick and rough, but their personality reminded me of a dog—happy to be petted and they love food. They seemed completely unbothered, sunbaking on this beautiful clear morning.

There are numerous other animals in the zoo, including flamingos, red pandas, monkeys, and fennec foxes. They even had an Australian section with kangaroos and emus! There is a total of 140 different species here. While the exhibits may not all be up to the expansive standards we’re used to in Australia, they seem to be improving many of them, and the animals looked happy and well-cared for.

The Original Capybara Bath & Glass Pyramids

Wandering further, it wasn’t just the animals that took our interest. We found the cactus greenhouse area—huge glass pyramids connected by underground tunnels, filled with over 1,500 types of cacti. It was very random, but very cool to see.

The best part of the few hours we spent here was watching the capybaras in the main exhibit. This is the birthplace of the original “capybara bath.” Every day in winter, the warm baths are filled and yuzu (Japanese citrus) is placed in the water for the capybaras to soak and enjoy. Seeing them so relaxed in the steam is exactly as peaceful as it looks.

We stopped for lunch just before wrapping up this portion of the day. I had the hambagu, which was delicious, in a restaurant filled with toy flamingos and plush capybaras sitting at each table. There were a few things we saw but didn’t do, like the animal boat tours where you can see the animals from the water, and multiple opportunities to feed and interact with the wildlife.

Planning Your Day: The Jogasaki Coast & Teddy Bear Museum

While our day ended a bit early due to a very tired and cranky eight-year-old, there is so much more to see in this area if your family has the energy to keep going. If I were planning this day again (and the mood was right!), these would be the next two stops:

The Jogasaki Coast & Kadoshizawa Suspension Bridge This is where the story of Mt Omuro truly ends. The dramatic cliffs were formed by the volcano’s ancient lava hitting the Pacific Ocean. The highlight here is the Kadoshizawa Suspension Bridge, which hangs 18 meters above the crashing waves. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the nearest station or a short bus ride from the zoo.

Izu Teddy Bear Museum If you’re traveling with kids (or just love quirky Japanese museums), the Izu Teddy Bear Museum is a hidden gem located right near Izu-Kogen Station. It’s famous not just for its massive collection of bears, but for the permanent My Neighbor Totoro exhibition on the second floor, featuring a giant, plush Catbus you can actually touch. You can [grab a discount ticket on Klook here]—it’s a lovely, low-energy way to wrap up the day if those “tired little legs” need one last indoor break!

Getting Around Izu Kōgen

Coming from Tokyo?
If you only have one day to spare and are coming from Tokyo, you can [book a guided day trip here]. It’s a great “Easy Mode” option that handles all the transport for you, ensuring you hit Mt Omuro, the Shaboten Zoo, and the Jogasaki Coast in one day without worrying about train schedules or bus transfers!

Getting Around Izu Kōgen (Local) Depending on where you are staying, there are two easy ways to reach the mountain and the zoo:

• Direct from Ito Station: This was my preferred route. You can hop on a local bus (Platform 6) directly to Izu Shaboten Koen. It’s about a 35-minute scenic ride and drops you right at the base of Mt Omuro and the zoo entrance.
• Via Izu-Kōgen Station: If you are coming from further away (like Atami) by train, get off at Izu-Kōgen Station. From there, you will need to take a 15-minute bus ride to the Shaboten Koen stop.

Continuing to the Jogasaki Coast

If your family still has some “go” left in them after the zoo, reaching the coast is a quick transition.

• By Bus: From the Izu Shaboten Koen bus stop (right outside the zoo), take the bus bound for Izu-Kōgen Station. From the station, it is a well-signed, 20-minute walk through a lovely residential forest to reach the Kadoshizawa Suspension Bridge.
• By Taxi: If the “tired little legs” are starting to set in, a taxi from the zoo directly to the Jogasaki Coast trailhead takes about 15-20 minutes and saves you the walk from the station.
• The Walking Trail: For the truly adventurous, there is a hiking trail (the Picnic Course) that leads from the Izu-Kōgen area down to the coast, but it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours—likely a “no-go” if you’re traveling with kids!

Final Thoughts: A Day of Peaks and Paws

Our day in Izu Kōgen was a perfect reminder of why I don’t lock in anything, especially with an 8-year-old with tired little legs. I like to have a loose plan, but never a locked in plan. Although you could absolutely fit the Jogasaki Coast in if your day goes well, it wasn’t to be for us that day. But I’m glad I got to tick off the 360-degree views at the top of Mt Omuro and watching a capybara soak in a yuzu bath off my list!

The Izu Peninsula is a region that feels worlds away from the rush of Tokyo. Even if you don’t tick every single box on your itinerary—and trust me, we’ve all been there with a tired explorer in tow—the memories made on these volcanic slopes are some of our favorites. It’s a rugged, beautiful, and surprisingly cuddly side of Japan that is well worth the journey.

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