[Izusan Jinja Shrine (Atami)]
□ Elements
・ Access
Take a bus from Atami Station (Bus Stop No. 4) bound for "Izusan Jinja" or "Izusan-nanasemi" (approx. 10 min). For those arriving by car, a parking lot is available near the main shrine buildings. For the full experience, some choose to climb the 837 stone steps from the coastline (Izusan Beach) up to the shrine.
・ Time
40–60 min stay. This covers the main hall and the famous "Red and White Dragon" fountain. If you plan to hike further up the mountain to the "Hongu" (original inner shrine), allow an additional 60–90 minutes for the steep forest trail. The shrine offers a magnificent view of Sagami Bay from the main plaza.
・ Outfit
Sneakers are highly recommended, especially if you intend to explore the various sub-shrines or climb the stairs. The grounds are built into a steep hillside. As this is a site of significant historical power (known as a "power spot"), modest clothing is appropriate for visiting the sacred areas.
・ Stay
Stay in the Izusan area for its quiet, high-end Ryokans and private onsen, or near Atami Station for better connectivity. This shrine is historically linked to the romance of Minamoto no Yoritomo and Hojo Masako, making it a popular stop for those interested in samurai history and "matchmaking."
・ Eat
There are no large restaurants directly on the shrine grounds. However, the Izusan neighborhood features several long-established traditional inns and small local eateries. Most visitors plan their meals back toward Atami Station or the nearby beach area where seafood specialties are abundant.
After a long climb up many stairs, you reach the inner sanctuary - which provides some beautiful views of Atami, but to reach the main shrine you must continue along a trail up the mountain for an hour or so - which we didn't do, but hope to on a future visit. So for a complete visit, make sure you have at least a couple hours in your schedule, wear comfortable shoes, and be ready for some cardio!
The upside parking was available to visite the izusan shrine.
On 12/21/2025,have visited again.
One of the most beautiful shrines I’ve been to. The grounds of this shrine were spectacular, with incredible views over the coast, a large koi pond, beautiful trees including cherry blossom trees and benches to sit and enjoy the view. There are over 150 stairs you’ll need to climb to reach the top but it’s definitely worth it. The shrine shop sells ema and omamori and there’s also a small area you can go “fishing” for a fortune.
The view from the top is beautiful! We went on New Year’s Day around 10am and there weren’t too many people. An hour later though, it got crowded really quickly. Still, definitely worth going if you’re in the area!
