Just two train stops from Atami is a quiet seaside town called Izu-Taga.
Unlike the busy area around Atami Station, Izu-Taga felt much calmer, with fewer tourists and a relaxed coastal atmosphere.
This time, we travelled from Tokyo Station to Atami by Shinkansen, then spent the day in Izu-Taga enjoying a soba lunch and a peaceful walk by the sea.
Along the way, we were also lucky enough to unexpectedly board the adorable sightseeing train known as the Kinme Train.
We enjoyed a leisurely meal at a traditional soba restaurant, drank freshly brewed coffee by the sea and simply slowed down for a while.
For adults who want to escape the crowds and enjoy a more relaxed side of Japan, Izu-Taga is a lovely place to visit.
In this article, I’ll also share practical tips on how to get there, Shinkansen crowds and what to know if you are travelling with large luggage.
From Tokyo Station to Atami by Kodama Shinkansen
Our trip to Izu-Taga began at Tokyo Station, where we boarded a Kodama service on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
We travelled on the morning of the first day of a three-day holiday weekend.
As expected, Tokyo Station was extremely crowded.
There are also many international visitors travelling around Japan now, and Shinkansen services can become especially busy on weekends and public holidays, so buying your ticket in advance is a good idea.
SmartEX Made Boarding Easy Even at Busy Tokyo Station
We bought our tickets the day before using SmartEX, the online reservation service for the Tokaido Shinkansen.
I linked the reservation to Mobile PASMO on my smartphone, so there was no need to queue for a paper ticket on the day. We could simply pass through the ticket gate and board.
We were also able to use an EX Hayatoku 1 fare, so the non-reserved seat from Tokyo to Atami cost ¥3,390.
That was ¥350 cheaper than the regular ¥3,740 fare at the time.
It is only a small saving, but if you are taking exactly the same train anyway, cheaper is always nicer — I’m only half joking.
SmartEX was also useful because it saved us from having to buy tickets at a very crowded station.
Fares, discount products and sales conditions are based on our trip and may change. Check the latest SmartEX information before travelling.
For Older Travellers, Reserved Seats or Green Car Seats Can Be Worth It
On the way to Atami, Tokyo was the starting station for our train, so we lined up early and managed to get seats in the non-reserved section.
The return journey from Atami was very different.
The Shinkansen was packed, and we could not get a seat, so we had to stand for part of the journey.
I almost never stand on a Shinkansen, and I was surprised by how tiring it felt. The movement and the crowded atmosphere felt quite different from standing on a normal commuter train.
For older travellers or families with small children, it may be especially tiring.
After that experience, I felt that booking a reserved seat or Green Car in advance is well worth considering on weekends and public holidays.
From Atami to Izu-Taga — and an Unexpected Ride on the Kinme Train
When we arrived at Atami Station, it was also full of tourists.
Our destination, Izu-Taga Station, is just two stops from Atami.
As we headed to the platform to transfer to the JR Ito Line, we noticed a bright red train waiting there.
By pure luck, we had arrived in time to ride Izu Kyuko’s sightseeing train, the Resort 21 Kinme Train.
The red exterior was decorated with illustrations of kinmedai, or splendid alfonsino fish, and it looked so cute.
We had only expected to take an ordinary train, so it felt like a little bonus.
A Playful Interior Filled with Sea Creatures
Inside the train, the walls and ceiling were covered with illustrations of kinmedai and other sea creatures.
The interior was so playful that I immediately wanted to take photos.
What surprised me even more was the seating.
Some of the seats face directly toward the large windows.
You do not often see a train layout like this on an ordinary local service.
Watching the Izu Coast Through the Large Windows
Through the large windows, we could enjoy views of the Izu coastline and surrounding towns.
Some passengers were even eating bento at the window counter while watching the scenery.
We had only boarded the train as transportation, but suddenly the journey itself felt like part of the sightseeing.
I could have happily stayed on much longer.
Unfortunately, Izu-Taga is only two stops from Atami.
Just when I was starting to enjoy the train, we had already arrived.
We had not planned to ride the Kinme Train at all, so it was a very happy surprise.
The Kinme Train does not operate on every service, so if you specifically want to ride it, check the latest operating information on the Izu Kyuko official website before travelling.
Arriving in Izu-Taga — A Quiet Walk with Ocean Views
As soon as we left Izu-Taga Station, we were greeted by a beautiful view of the sea.
It was so quiet that I found myself wondering where all the crowds from Atami had gone.
Blue water, green mountains and a very relaxed atmosphere surrounded us.
The weather was beautiful that day, and simply walking around felt good.
No Coin Lockers at Izu-Taga Station? Be Careful with Large Luggage
One thing that caused us trouble after arriving at Izu-Taga Station was that we could not find any coin lockers.
We had brought a suitcase with us, but there was nowhere obvious to leave it, so we ended up sightseeing with it.
Which meant...
pulling a suitcase to the soba restaurant, then taking it all the way to the seaside.
The town itself was relaxing.
Our luggage was not.
Izu-Taga is a pleasant place to explore on foot, but walking around with a suitcase is definitely more tiring.
For older travellers or anyone carrying a lot of luggage, I would recommend leaving your bags at your hotel first, if possible.
Some hotels may be able to store luggage before check-in, so it is worth asking in advance.
We could not confirm any coin lockers at the station during our visit. Facilities may change.
A Cute Bird on the Way to Lunch
Our first stop was a popular soba restaurant called Taga.
It is about a 10-minute walk from Izu-Taga Station.
On the way, we passed a small river and spotted a cute white bird.
When I looked more closely, I noticed that the tips of its toes were bright yellow.
Of course, I had to take a photo.
These little unexpected encounters are part of the fun of travelling slowly.
Lunch at Soba Restaurant Taga in a Beautiful Traditional Japanese House
After walking for about 10 minutes, we reached an impressive traditional Japanese building.
Our lunch stop was the popular soba restaurant Soba-dokoro Taga.
The tiled roof and wooden architecture immediately caught my attention, and after passing through the gate, we found a beautiful green garden.
We arrived around lunchtime, and about three groups were already waiting.
It is a popular restaurant, so it is a good idea to allow extra time.
A Spacious Tatami Dining Room with a Relaxed Atmosphere
Inside, wooden pillars, shoji screens and tatami created a calm, traditional Japanese atmosphere.
The dining room was spacious, and sitting on the tatami felt very relaxing.
I really like places with this kind of old-fashioned Japanese atmosphere.
There were also many older customers when we visited, including one guest using a wheelchair.
The wheelchair user was guided to a table without a step, so the restaurant appeared to make some accommodations for guests who may find tatami seating difficult.
If you need wheelchair access, it would be best to contact the restaurant in advance.
Duck Seiro Soba for Lunch
I ordered the Duck Seiro Soba for ¥1,550.
The warm dipping broth contained pieces of duck, and it went very well with the cold soba noodles.
There was only one thing I noticed.
The portion of noodles felt a little small to me.
If you have a bigger appetite, the double serving for ¥2,100 may be a better choice.
Still, sitting in the spacious tatami room and enjoying good soba was a very pleasant way to spend lunch.
Menu items and prices are from the time of our visit.
Walking to Nagahama Seaside Park
After lunch at Taga, we walked to Nagahama Seaside Park, about six minutes away.
The sky was beautifully blue that day.
When the weather is this good, even the walk toward the sea feels exciting.
A Local Event with Izu Specialities
When we arrived at Nagahama Seaside Park, a local event happened to be taking place.
There were stalls selling local vegetables, dried fish, jam and other products.
Izu-Taga does not have rows of souvenir shops like the area around Atami Station, so it was nice to have an opportunity to buy local products this way.
There were all kinds of interesting products, including log-grown shiitake mushrooms and lemonade.
Unexpectedly finding a small local event like this is one of those travel moments I really enjoy.
There was even a footbath.
When we visited, it was available free of charge on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Bringing a small towel would be useful.
Event schedules, vendors and footbath operating details may vary, so check the latest local information before visiting.
Freshly Brewed Coffee by the Sea
It was a little warm that day, so I ordered an iced coffee from one of the event stalls.
After I ordered, they ground the coffee beans on the spot and carefully brewed the coffee for me.
The freshly brewed coffee smelled wonderful and tasted so good.
With an iced coffee in hand, I decided to take a short break by the sea.
Blue Water, Gentle Waves and a Very Quiet Afternoon
A beautiful stretch of sea lies directly in front of Nagahama Seaside Park.
We were lucky with the weather, and the contrast between the blue sky and blue water was gorgeous.
When I walked down onto the beach, there were very few people around.
Sitting by the sea with a good iced coffee felt surprisingly luxurious.
The lively atmosphere around Atami Station is fun too, but spending time somewhere quiet like this has a completely different appeal.
You do not always need to rush between sightseeing spots.
Sometimes, simply sitting and looking at the sea is enough.
If that sounds like your kind of holiday, Izu-Taga is a lovely place to slow down.
A 170 cm Selfie Stick Was Useful for Travel Photos
By the way, I took these seaside photos by myself.
For travel photos, I found a selfie stick that extends to 170 cm very useful.
Because you can place the camera farther away, it is easier to include not only your whole body but also the surrounding sea and scenery.
It is especially convenient when travelling alone because you do not have to ask someone else to take your photo.
Final Thoughts: A Slow, Relaxing Day in Izu-Taga
Izu-Taga is only two stops from Atami Station.
An unexpected ride on the cute Kinme Train, lunch at a beautiful traditional soba restaurant, and a quiet beach at Nagahama Seaside Park made for a very relaxing day.
There are not dozens of major tourist attractions here, but for anyone who wants to avoid crowds and enjoy a slower pace, that is exactly the appeal.
There is just one thing I would do differently next time:
the luggage.
Rather than dragging a suitcase around town like I did, I would definitely leave it at the hotel first.
During this trip, we also stayed at Auberge Fontaine Bleau Atami in Izu-Taga.
I’ll share our hotel stay, including the ocean-view room, hot spring and dinner, in a separate article.
