Toi Onsen

The oldest and largest hot spring resort on the west coast of Izu, Doi Onsen is a popular marine resort that attracts many bathers during the summer.

This area has been producing gold as a gold mining town since the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is said that hot springs began to gush out during gold mining in the Edo period (1603-1868), and today, six hot springs are centrally managed and circulated in Doi area.

Hotels and ryokan (Japanese-style inns) line the streets of the hot spring resort near the coast. There are four public bathhouses and one footbath in Doi Onsen.

The Doi gold mine once flourished in this hot spring resort during the Edo period (1603-1868), and the tunnels can now be visited as tourist attractions. Restaurants serving deep-sea fish from Suruga Bay are also popular.

History

The history of Doi Hot Springs dates back to 1611, when a hot spring gushed out of a shaft in the precincts of Anrakuji Temple during the development of the Doi Gold Mine. This source was named “Mabuyu” after the discoverer, Mabu Hikohira.

The modern Doi Hot Spring is said to have begun in 1899, when a well was dug in the Bamba area for drinking water, and the hot spring gushed out.

Spring Quality

The quality of Doi Onsen is a mixture of six different sources. They are clear, odorless, low-temperate, mildly alkaline, high-temperature, and abundant, with approximately 6 million liters of hot water gushing out each day.

Each source has different spring qualities, including gypsum containing nitrate, saline earth weak salt, saline gypsum containing salt, and saline earth springs. The temperature of the springs also varies, and each source has its own unique characteristics.

Doi hot springs are effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, stiff shoulders, motor paralysis, chronic women’s diseases, chronic digestive diseases, hemorrhoids, arteriosclerosis, and wounds.

Four public bathhouses (Baba Onsen Benten no Yu, Oyabu Benten no Yu, Motoyu Onsen, and Yagata Onsen) have been established in this area to take advantage of the abundant hot springs.

The hot springs are an attractive place to enjoy hot spring baths after swimming or fishing, and many people visit the area to use the hot springs after their activities.

In addition, during the bathing season, the “Doi Onsen Maru,” which uses a boat directly on the beach as a bathtub and fills the inside of the boat with hot spring water, is also very popular.

Sightseeing Spots

There are many sightseeing spots in the surrounding area, and the area continues to be popular as a hot spring resort where visitors can fully enjoy the nature and history of Izu.

Matsubara Park, which stretches behind the bathing beach, is famous for its sunsets, has the world’s largest flower clock, and offers a variety of seasonal flowers. There is a footbath in front of the nearby hot spring fountain monument, which can be easily enjoyed.

From the observation deck at the cape, visitors can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of more than 180 degrees, with Mt.

The cape is also home to a spectacle monument and a literary monument, and a love-calling bell has been installed at the observatory. It is said that if you ring the bell and call out the name of your loved one, your eternal love will be fulfilled, making it popular among young couples and earning it the nickname “Lovers’ Cape.

The Lovers’ Cape Office is located at the entrance of the promenade, where a certificate of declaration of love is issued and Stella House (Hoshi-no-Yakata), which sells original Lovers’ Cape goods, coffee, and other beverages, is available as a rest stop.

The Lovers’ Cape Office issues a certificate of declaration of love free of charge to those who pledge their love by ringing the bell at this cape, which is very popular. When two people decide to get married, they can receive a congratulatory telegram or wedding souvenir by contacting the Lovers’ Cape Office.