Ito

Ito is the big onsen city of the east coast, and its tourism office says its hot spring flow ranks among the largest in Japan. Seven public baths named for the seven lucky gods sit around the centre, and Wada Jurojin no Yu charges ¥400. The Edo shogun Iemitsu was sent water from that spring, the city says. Tokaikan, a timber ryokan on the Matsukawa River, opens its tiled bath at weekends.

Riders reach Ito by the JR Ito line from Atami or on an Odoriko limited express from Tokyo. Michi-no-eki Ito Marine Town, on Route 135 at the north end of town, has a sea-view bath that opens at 05:00, food and parking. South of the city the road climbs to the Izu Kogen plateau and Mt. Omuro.

K's House Ito Onsen, a hostel in an old ryokan by the river, has free space for five bicycles. The coast here faces east, so the Marine Town bath opens at 05:00 for the sunrise over the sea.