Nishiizu Skyline Road
The Nishiizu Skyline Road is a 10 km road running north and south along the mountain ridge on the northwest part of Izu Peninsula. It is one of the best cycling roads in the country offering stunning views of Mt. Fuji across Suruga Bay as it winds its way up and around Mt. Daruma, a grassy peak that rises 981 meters above sea level and is what many of the sites in the area are named after.
On the ride featured here I began at Shuzenji which lies at the end of the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line, a line that begins in Mishima. From Shuzenji I rode on Hwy 18 along the Katsura River which later becomes the Kitamata River. It is a very pleasant, quiet road running alongside terraced rice paddies and small fields.
About 8 km from Shuzenji Station the road loops to the right and climbs up out of the valley to join the high road running along the forested ridge. After about 4 km you come to Darumayama Kougen Rest House. It has a restaurant and viewpoint that looks out over Suruga Bay to Mount Fuji. It is known to have one of best views of Mt. Fuji. Apparently, it was the spot from which the artist Taikan Yokoyama painted his famous picture of Mt. Fuji.
From Darumayama Rest House the road rises above 700 meters and maintains this elevation for roughly 10 km before it begins to descend more rapidly (the highest point of the road being 925 meters). Most of this takes you through fields of pampas grass giving you wide open views in all directions. The many wide rounded curves really help to provide those views.
I pulled over at the trailhead to Mount Daruma and climbed up to take in the view. The trail looks like a long staircase that climbs straight up the mountain. It’s about ½ km gaining 500 meters in elevation. The view on top is superb giving you a 360° panorama. Of course, the most popular view is in the direction of Mt. Fuji.
After Darumayama the road descends slightly, then rises to its maximum elevation of about 920 meters, and then begins its descent to the intersection of Hwy 411. At this point you have the option of heading toward the coast on Hwy 136 to a place called Toi Gold Mine. I recommend this route as the jagged coastline gives you some of the most picturesque views in Japan. Especially around the capes of Mihama and Osezaki as you head north toward Numazu.
Going south at this point would also provide fantastic riding. Just make sure to consider the distance and elevation gain. The western coast of Izu is wild and wooly and there are no train stations in which to bail out. You’ll need enough time and energy to get you all the way to Shimoda.
Another option you have at the bottom of the Skyline Road is to turn left on Hwy 411 and descend down into the interior of the peninsula. I chose this route during this ride in order to see some territory that I hadn’t yet explored. I circled back up to Shuzenji on Hwy 414 and then turned on Hwy 80 and headed NE toward Atami. Hwy 80 was a good discovery; a quiet road that took me through peaceful little villages and eventually ascended up to Yamabushi Pass (510m) on the steep ridge separating the Atami area from the rest of the peninsula.
Atami is known for being the hilliest city in Japan with steep slopes that seem to rise up right out of the ocean. This makes for a speedy descent with splendid views. Hwy 80 intersects Hwy 135 (the coastal highway) near Ajiro. On this Golden Week holiday, the road was clogged with traffic but the bike lane allowed me to go around most of it and get to my destination at Atami Station.
I count Nishiizu Skyline Road as one of my best rides. The views and the smooth curvy road cannot be beat. I recommend that you try it at least once.
Nishiizu Skyline Road Gallery
