Mentai Park

MUSEUM

Mentai Park is a free mentaiko (fish egg) theme park located near the Kannami roadside station. Inside you can browse the store and restaurant selling various kinds of mentaiko goods, as well as enjoy mentaiko themed exhibits (Japanese only), games, and even a children’s play area upstairs! There are also footbaths outside which face Mt. Fuji and give you an amazing view on a clear day.

Mentai Park has a large car park and it can get crowded very quickly on holidays/weekends due to it being a popular place to visit for families.

Review

Mentai Park is a fun place to visit with friends and family. I have taken many of my friends here when they visit us from overseas and they loved it! There are a few hands-on exhibits on the first floor, with a play area on the second. It’s not very big so you could easily walk around in 30 minutes (longer if you have children who want to play), although the roadside station (Michi no Eki) and Wasabi Museum is close by so you could combine all three in one trip!

It can be difficult to get to without a car so I wouldn’t recommend trying to get here unless there are other things in the area you want to see.

ADDRESS

Mentai Park Izu,
753-1 Tsukamoto,
Kannami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
419-0124

+81559289012 (Japanese only)
https://mentai-park.com/izu/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Mentai Park has plenty of parking for anyone arriving by car. For public transport, either take the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line to Izu-Nitta Station and walk 23 minutes or you can take a taxi.

Maboroshi Hakurankai

MUSEUM

Ito is home to two of the strangest museums I’ve ever been to, both run by the same company. The company president, Yoshitsugu Uno, often appears at the museum under the name “Sera-chan” and often dresses in cosplays. “Sera-chan” is almost a mascot of the museum and many people come to take pictures together.

The museum consists of multiple large greenhouses jam-packed full of old toys and memorabilia, all categorised and waiting for you to explore.

The museum has a large car park.

Review

This is by far one of the strangest museums I’ve ever visited. Linked to the Ayashii Shonen Shojo Hakubutsukan, both of these are a must visit if you want to experience the weird side of Japan. The museum is literally jam-packed with old toys, clothes, posters and memorabilia. It feels like people have donated their old, unwanted items and this museum found a home and even categorised them. You will leave not knowing what you just witnessed so if that’s your sort of thing then I definitely recommend visiting. If not then give this a miss. There are also multiple “over 18” sections although these aren’t very well advertised.

Walking up to the gate and seeing the first greenhouse was very awe-inspiring, even more so when you realise how many there are and how full of items they are. “Sera-chan” waits for you at the bottom of the stairs, ready to greet you even if you can’t speak Japanese. Head up the stairs to the actual reception desk and pay the entry fee. You can enter this shack, however I would leave it until last as there are some impressive statues hidden inside.

It’s up to you which order you decide to walk around the exhibit. The categories change, however all of the areas are full of old items which seem to have been discarded by their previous owners. If you manage to reach the top you can even see a self-made shrine.

Seeing all the exhibits takes quite a lot of time so I would leave aside a few hours just for this one museum. It is advertised that disabled people can get a discount, however I would not recommend coming here if you are wheelchair bound or unable to walk much. There are many stairs and some of the areas are very tight fitting so I doubt you’d be able to get a wheelchair through.

ADDRESS

Maboroshi Hakurankai,
1310-1 Futo,
Ito,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0231

+81557511127 (Japanese only)
https://maboroshi.pandora.nu/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Maboroshi Hakurankai is easier to get to by car and has plenty of parking, however if you wish to travel by public transport then take the JR Ito Line from Atami Station and get off at Ito Station. Change to the bus bound for Izu Shaboten Zoo and alight at Umenokidaira bus stop.

Ayashii Shonen Shojo Hakubutsukan

MUSEUM

Ito is home to two of the strangest museums I’ve ever visited, both run by the same company. The Ayashii Shonen Shojo Hakubutsukan is a museum which displays retro Japanese and American toys and other miscellaneous items. “Ayashii” means “suspicious” and refers to the cult/subculture atmosphere to the displays.

The giant penguin standing at the entrance is a landmark for the museum and is apparently a remnant of the previous “penguin museum”.

At the back there is also a small haunted house. Feel free to stumble your way through this!

The museum also has an on-site car park.

Review

This is by far one of the strangest museums I’ve ever visited. Linked to the Maboroshi Hakurankai, both of these are a must visit if you want to experience the weird side of Japan. The museum is literally jam-packed with old toys, clothes, posters, memorabilia and even has a corner full of just Furbys! It feels like people have donated their old, unwanted items and this museum found a home and even categorised them. You will leave not knowing what you just witnessed so if that’s your sort of thing then I definitely recommend visiting. If not then give this a miss.

At the back of the museum is a small haunted house, run by sensors as you approach each section. Don’t worry, no one should jump out at you. Not knowing the back story behind any of the horrors, it was mainly just some attempts at jump scares, although I’m sure if you know more about Japanese horror stories then it will be scarier for you on a cultural level.

Below the stairs there are also old games so feel free to relax and play some old school Mario or any of the other games lying about.

This museum is much smaller than I expected, taking only 30 minutes for us to walk around and fully admire all that’s on display. It’s a fairly small building with two floors and a back for the haunted house. If you come here definitely plan more in your itinerary.

ADDRESS

Ayashii Shonen Shojo Hakubutsukan,
Futo Kaido 1029-64,
Ito,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-0231

+81557518800 (Japanese only)
https://ayashii.pandora.nu/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Ayashii Shonen Shojo Hakubutsukan is easier to get to by car however if you wish to take public transport then take the JR Ito Line from Atami Station and switch to the bus at Izu Kougen Station. Then ride the bus for Izu Shaboten Zoo and alight at Ikeiriguchi Bus Stop.

Izu Hell Museum

MUSEUM

The Izu Hell Museum is a unique museum dedicated to educating visitors about Japanese views on Heaven, Hell and the Afterlife. You no longer need to wait until your near-death experience to know what the Japanese believe is coming up next!

There is also an “adult museum” connected to the building, for 18s and over. It features many items and artwork dedicated to adult themes.

The museum also has a large car park.

Review

The staff at the museum are very friendly and always willing to have a conversation, although their English is very basic. Most likely if they see you are foreign they will ask what country you come from. It’s rare that they get foreign visitors so they’re always happy to see new faces. Ensure to get the English pamphlet available as it will explain in detail about all you will see in the museum. Buying your tickets is also very easy as they have something you can point to at the desk. Just make sure to let them know if you want the combined ticket or not.

Even if you don’t speak Japanese, they will bring you to the first room to give you the basic rundown of what happens (completely in Japanese). Even for people who speak Japanese, this may be a little difficult to understand due to the terminology. They will point at the board while explaining and basically there are different levels of hell that you would need to go through (each with their own different way of torturing). The explanation is interesting but even if you don’t understand it’s ok. The English pamphlet they give you will explain it all in more detail. I think they just do this anyway as it’s part of their job so don’t feel bad if you don’t understand.

After the speech they leave you to your own devices. Walk up the stairs to view the different exhibits, most of which have signs in English. They will show the different levels of hell and what kind of torture to expect at each stage. Later on there is also an area with Enma (the god of hell who judges whether or not you go to Heaven or Hell). They have provided a guest book here where you’re supposed to confess your sin (a representation of what actually happens in front of Enma). Writing in English is perfectly ok!

When you walk downstairs you come across some bells to your left. You’re supposed to ring these to “get rid of” the sins they represent, almost like you’re cleansing your body. At the end there is a display on the Buddhist Heaven. In this room there are also many artifacts dedicated to the Buddhist beliefs. Feel free to touch and of the books/parchment in the room. I’m not sure if they will try to explain in English but when I went they told me the books are made from an old type of paper which make them feel really weird. They highly encourage you to flick through them and feel the difference. There is also a small store before the exit where you can purchase Enma/Hell-themed goods.

The adult museum is to the side of the building, up some old stairs. Don’t be alarmed by how graphic everything is. Japanese people don’t tend to censor anything for over 18s. There are a lot of paintings/statues of adult themes.

ADDRESS

Izu Hell Museum,
370-1 Shimofunabara,
Izu City,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-3214

+81558870253 (Japanese only)
http://izu-gokurakuen.com/ (Japanese only)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

The Izu Hell Museum is easiest to get to by car as public transport on the West side of Izu can be quite sporadic. If you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Mishima to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line. Switch to the bus bound for Matsuzaki (松崎) and get off at Hozoinzen. It takes around 23 minutes, ￥530 each way and there are 1-2 buses per hour.

Toi Gold Mine

MUSEUM

Previously the heart of Toi town, Toi Gold Mine was the second most productive gold mine in Japan, with Sado Gold Mine being the first. It was the source of gold used for the production of coins and closed in 1965, producing approximately 40 tons of gold and 400 tons of silver in its lifetime.

Today the mine is open to the public as a museum, with an illumination event held during cherry blossom season. Toi Gold Mine features a 400m tunnel (with animatronic miners and signs in English), museum dedicated to the old tools/process of gold mining, gold sifting experience and is also home to the world’s largest gold bar (*as of 2021), weighing in at 250kg. It also has a restaurant where you can eat the local specialty, deer rice bowl. Ensure to get there early as stock is limited for this dish.

From late January to early February, the gold mine is open until late for a special cherry blossom illumination. Entry to the grounds is free, although you won’t be able to enjoy anything other than the cherry blossoms at this time. If visiting at this time I recommend visiting during the day and then coming back at night to enjoy the illumination.

Review

Years ago, the gold mine was the heart of Toi. After the gold mine closed, the population decreased and the town has shrunk. They reopened the mine to the public as a museum to help bring tourists to the small town. The mine is pretty small (with 400m of the 100km tunnel open to the public) but worth visiting if you want to learn more about gold production in Japan.

Walking through the tunnel, make sure to watch your head as you walk around. Unlike other tunnels I’ve been to in Japan, they do not provide you with helmets so you do risk bumping your head in certain parts of the tunnel. Along the tunnel walls are some displays and also animatronics, both with English signs. The English sounds a little unnatural although it gets its point across. Ensure to stop to pray at the little shrine inside, the same shrine the miners themselves used to pray at to ensure their safety in the mine. The animatronics, even the females, have very little clothing as in olden Japan it wasn’t seen as sexual to show anything from the waist up and it was also very hot inside so they would wear as little clothing as they could. If you do not want to see this then skip the tunnel. During summer the tunnel is cool so if you want to escape the summer heat then I recommend you visit.

The museum is pretty interesting, although the English signs seem to disappear at this point. You can see a lot of the old tools used to mine, as well as diagrams for the old town. Inside the museum is the world’s largest gold bar (*as of 2021). Feel free to slip a hand in the case and try to lift the bar. Good luck with your attempt as the bar is very difficult to lift! Outside the museum is the gold panning room and for 30 minutes you are able to sift as much gold as you can. At the end you also receive a gift for your experience. Please ensure you buy a ticket for the gold panning if you wish to do this.

At the end of January/beginning of February they hold a cherry blossom illumination for the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan, the Toi sakura. It’s a must-see if you’re in the area at the right time! Information is usually posted online months before with the dates for the upcoming illuminations, as well as the opening event held in the nearby Matsubara Park. Please note that you are able to enter the grounds for free, but unable to enter the tunnel, museum or the gold panning room.

ADDRESS

Toi Gold Mine
2726 Toi,
Izu City,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-3302

+81558980800 (Japanese only)
https://www.toikinzan.com/en/

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

The gold mine has an impressive parking lot, although if you’re travelling by public transport then take the train from Mishima to Shuzenji on the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line. Then switch to the bus bound for Dogashima (堂ヶ島) and get off at Toi Kinzan (土肥金山). It takes around 50 minutes, ￥1,380 each way and there are 1-2 buses per hour.

MOA Museum of Art

MUSEUM

The MOA Museum of Art is a famous museum filled with many national treasures. 33 years after it’s opening in 1982, the museum underwent a major renovation, making the museum appear very bright, open and modern.

The museum also features a Japanese style garden, tea houses and a noh (Japanese play) threatre. They regularly hold special exhibits/events so ensure to check before you arrive what you can see!

There are car parks near the main building at the 3rd floor entrance (not the escalator entrance). Parking is free of charge and can hold 200 vehicles.

Review

The MOA Museum of Art is very famous, situated on the Atami hilltop. It boasts great views of the area and holds many national treasures so it’s no wonder that it’s a popular spot for Japanese people to visit. The museum is very large, however if you can’t cope with large crowds maybe steer clear of the museum. It can get very crowded, especially during popular exhibitions/events.

There is a lot to see here so if you plan on coming to the museum I’d put aside at least half a day to see everything you want to, more if you plan on going to any of the events they regularly hold. They have many different sections, full of art for everyone’s taste. There was a Hokusai (the famous wood-block painter) exhibit when I went so it was very crowded full of people wanting to see the original prints.

As some museum etiquette information, Japanese people always queue, waiting their turn to see the next item. There will obviously be people who break this rule but the majority of Japanese people are willing to go at a snails pace or queue for hours for the sake of their culture. Be prepared for this when you arrive. It’s not against any rules to break formation and go at your own pace but you may struggle to get close to anything to see it properly when there’s a very slow moving wall of Japanese people making their way around the museum.

There is also a small café in the museum, however the seating space is limited and almost always full. If you manage to find a free seat then feel free to put your bag on the seat while you order. Japanese people regularly do this as Japan is a very safe country and it is extremely rare for someone to take your stuff. Just make sure you don’t take too much space. If you’re taking up a whole table for four to yourself then you will most likely get some disapproving stares.

ADDRESS

MOA Museum of Art,
26-2 Momoyamacho,
Atami,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
413-8511

+81557842511 (Japanese only)
http://www.moaart.or.jp/ (English and Japanese)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

If travelling by public transport, take the bus bound for MOA Museum of Art in front of the train station. It alights from Rank 8 and takes approximately 7 minutes to get there. It takes ￥190 for a one-way ticket or you can use the Yuyu daily bus pass. It is the last stop on the bus route. The bus timetable can be found here.

Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace

MUSEUM

The Nirayama Reververatory Furnace is an iron smelting facility in Izunokuni built by the Tokugawa government in 1857 during the Meiji Industrial Revolution. It represents the start of modern iron production in Japan and is the most complete furnace still standing in Japan. It received world heritage status in the summer of 2015.

The furnace has a large car park, as well as a gift shop and visitor centre (signs in Japanese) for anyone visiting. They also have English tours by local volunteers and English pamphlets for anyone wanting a simple English explanation.

Review

Honestly speaking, the furnace was a little underwhelming. At the entrance there is a small museum about the history of the furnace but it is very text heavy and can get crowded very quickly.

Upon leaving the museum, we were immediately approached by a local Japanese volunteer, wanting to explain everything to us in English. It is a very popular tourist destination so it is always full of volunteers wanting to test out their English. If you are very introverted and don’t want to talk to enthusiastic locals it may be hard for you to say no. The tour itself was pretty short and the locals seemed to have memorised a script so unless you get lucky and find a volunteer with a good grasp of English you may want to steer clear of asking questions.

There isn’t must to the furnace, although there is a small river walk where you can take photos. I would definitely recommend planning more in your schedule if you plan on visiting the furnace as I doubt it would even take an hour to walk around if you’re reading everything thoroughly.

At the exist there is a gift shop, filled with local delicacies and tourist goods. Each area in Japan has its own local specialty so if you don’t mind the price it may be a good place to get some local gifts. It is also home to some very strange drink flavours. We tried the melon bread and curry flavours, which were very true to taste but not something I think should ever have been made into drink form.

ADDRESS

Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace,
268 Naka,
Izunokuni,
Shizuoka Prefecture,
410-2113

+81559493450 (Japanese only)
https://www.city.izunokuni.shizuoka.jp/bunka_bunkazai/manabi/bunkazai/hansyaro/ (English and Japanese)
https://www.city.izunokuni.shizuoka.jp/hansyaro/manabi/bunkazai/hansyaro/documents/english.pdf (English pamphlet)

RECOMMENDED ROUTE:

Nirayama Revereratory Furnance has plenty of parking for anyone arriving by car. For public transport, either take the Izu Hakone Tetsudo Line to Izunagaoka station and walk 30 minutes or you can take the hourly loop bus from the station.