A peaceful ajisai walk, a sneaky mountain trail, and the best anpan in town.
Getting There: Driving from Numazu via Izu Jukan Road
I drove down from Numazu via the Izu Jukan Road (伊豆縦貫道) — though heads up, the road is still partially under construction, so it’s not fully connected yet. The drive is a mix of smooth expressway sections where you can cruise along easily, and winding mountain passes where the road twists and turns through the hills all the way into Izu. Honestly? With my cat in the back seat, the curvy mountain road made it feel like a proper little adventure before we even arrived.
💡 Tip: The Izu Jukan Road is still partially under construction and not fully connected yet. Expect a mix of smooth highway sections and winding mountain passes through the hills. Allow a little extra time — and enjoy the scenery. The mountain road into Izu is beautiful!
Shimoda is also easily accessible by train — just hop on the Limited Express Odoriko from Tokyo to Shimoda Station, and the park is reachable from there too.
Parking Hack: Free Parking at Shimoda Marine World 🅿️
Here’s a little tip I love sharing — instead of fighting for parking near the entrance, I parked at the Shimoda Marine World (📍下田海中水族館) parking lot, which is free.
From there, I took a back trail up the mountain and approached Ajisai Park from behind. It’s a bit of a hike, but honestly? It made the whole experience feel more like an adventure. Plus, no crowds on that route.
🅿️ Free parking: Shimoda Marine World side lot
🥾 Route: Back trail up the mountain → Shimoda Ajisai Park
Shimoda Hydrangea Park: A Whole Mountain of Ajisai 🌸
Shimoda Hydrangea Park (📍下田あじさい公園) isn’t just a garden — it’s an entire mountain covered in hydrangeas of every color and variety. Deep purple, soft lavender, white, blue — it honestly feels like you’re walking through a painting.
It’s one of the most popular spots in the Izu Peninsula during rainy season, and for good reason. On weekends, the area around Shimoda Port gets packed — parking fills up fast and the trails get busy.
My recommendation: go on a weekday afternoon. I had the paths nearly to myself and could take my time wandering through the flowers. Bliss.
My Cat Came Too 🐱
Yes, I brought my cat. Yes, it was the right decision.
Souvenir Stop: Hirai Seika (平井製菓) 🍡
On the way back, I stopped at📍 Hirai Seika (平井製菓), a local sweets shop, and grabbed anpan and dorayaki as souvenirs. Simple, classic, and so good.
If you’re in Shimoda, don’t skip this one. It’s the kind of place that only locals and slow travelers find — and now you know about it too.
Plan Your Visit
| 📍 Shimoda Hydrangea Park | Shimoda, Shizuoka |
| 🚗 Parking | Shimoda Marine World lot (free) |
| 🌸 Best season | Mid-June (rainy season) |
| 📅 Best timing | Weekday afternoon |
| 🚃 By train | Limited Express Odoriko → Shimoda Station |
Stay in Shimoda Overnight?
Shimoda is worth more than a day trip. The town has great onsen, fresh seafood, and a really laid-back vibe.
💡 How I find hotels in Shimoda: I usually check a few sites to compare prices — Booking.com tends to have great deals on smaller ryokan, while Jalan and Rakuten Travel are good for Japanese-style inns with meals included. For rental cars, I recommend comparing on a car rental comparison site to find the best rate for driving the Izu Peninsula.
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