A Local’s Hidden Drive Around Izu-Ohito & Izunokuni: Gyoza, Strawberries, the Sea, Mentaiko & Wasabi

Hey friends! 👋 If you love finding places that aren’t packed with tourists, save this one. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite local drives — a relaxed loop around Izu-Ohito and Izunokuni City in Shizuoka, the kind of route locals quietly treasure and most travel guides completely skip.

Here’s why I love it: every single stop is just 10 to 15 minutes from the last. So in one easy day you can devour crispy gyoza, lick the prettiest strawberry soft serve, hop a little boat to an island marine park, grab authentic kimchi, and finish with a mentaiko theme park and a wasabi museum. No bullet trains, no long transfers — just you, a car, and a whole lot of delicious little discoveries. 🚗💨

Ready? Let me take you through it, stop by stop.

Total driving time: well under an hour, all in. Set aside a relaxed half to full day to enjoy it properly.

Stop 1: Manpukuken — Gyoza & Half Fried Rice

Every great road trip starts with a great meal. 📍Manpukuken (麺処 萬福軒) is a beloved, no-frills local noodle-and-Chinese spot, and the move here is the gyoza paired with a half portion of fried rice (han-chahan). The gyoza are crispy on the bottom and juicy inside, and that wok-kissed fried rice is pure comfort food. Going halfsies on the rice leaves room for all the treats ahead — and trust me, you’ll want the room. 🥟

Local tip: small neighborhood shops like this are often cash-only and may close in the afternoon between lunch and dinner — so go early!

Stop 2: Ichigo BonBon Berry — Strawberry Soft Serve & Souvenirs

Next, dessert — and this one is special. Izunokuni is strawberry country, and 📍Ichigo BonBon Berry’s Izu-no-Kuni Factory turns that local pride into the most photogenic soft serve around. The strawberry swirl is piped to look like a blooming flower, and it tastes as good as it looks: rich, creamy, and bursting with real strawberry flavor. 🍓 Take your time browsing the souvenir corner too — it’s full of cute strawberry sweets and gifts to bring home.

Stop 3: Awashima Marine Park — Hop a Boat to an Island Aquarium

Now for something completely different. Over on the Uchiura coast, a short ferry whisks you across to 📍Awashima Marine Park — a marine park set on its own little island in Suruga Bay. You get sweeping sea views on the ride over, then dolphins, an aquarium, and that breezy island-getaway feeling. It’s the perfect midday change of pace, and the ocean air is unbeatable. 🐬

Stop 4: Kumsan Kimchi — Authentic Kimchi to Take Home

Back over in Izunokuni, make a quick stop at 📍Kumsan Kimchi (錦山キムチ), a specialty shop turning out properly fermented, authentic kimchi. This is nothing like supermarket kimchi — it’s the real, deeply flavorful kind, with that punchy, garlicky kick that makes everything it touches better. Grab a pack (or three); it’s the perfect souvenir for anyone who loves bold, spicy food.

Stop 5: Kanefuku Mentai Park Izu

Your next stop is pure fun: 📍Kanefuku Mentai Park Izu. Mentaiko (spicy marinated pollock roe) is a beloved Japanese delicacy, and this quirky, free-to-enter park lets you watch it being made through big factory windows, pick up super-fresh mentaiko to take home, and — my personal must-try — grab a freshly made mentaiko rice ball or even mentaiko-flavored soft serve. Playful, tasty, and great for all ages.

Stop 6: Izu Gateway Kannami — Roadside Station Pit Stop

Just up the road is 📍Izu Gateway Kannami (伊豆ゲートウェイ函南), a lively roadside station (michi-no-eki) that makes a great pit stop. You’ll find local produce, regional snacks and souvenirs, casual eats, and plenty of photogenic corners. It’s a relaxed place to stretch your legs and stock up before the final stop.

Stop 7: Izu Wasabi Museum

Finally, no trip through this part of Shizuoka is complete without celebrating its most famous crop: wasabi. The 📍Izu Wasabi Museum (run by Yamamoto Foods) is a fun, hands-on way to end the day. Learn how real wasabi is grown in the region’s pure mountain water, try grating fresh wasabi yourself, and — go on, be brave — taste the wasabi soft serve. It’s milder and sweeter than you’d expect, with just a gentle kick. The shop is a treasure trove of wasabi everything, perfect for last souvenirs.

Plan Your Own Izu-Ohito Drive

Getting around: This route is all about the freedom of the open road, so a rental car is essential — there’s no convenient way to link these little spots by public transport. Picking up a car in Mishima, Numazu, or near Izu-Nagaoka Station puts you right at the start of the loop.

Best time to visit: It’s lovely year-round, but for fresh local strawberries at their peak, aim for roughly January through May. Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable driving weather and the clearest sea views.

Where to stay: Izunokuni and nearby Izu-Nagaoka are full of lovely hot spring (onsen) ryokan and hotels — the perfect way to soak away the day’s adventures.

Hungry for more local food? Browse and reserve nearby restaurants before you go.

Final Thoughts

What I love most about this little loop is how much it packs into so little distance. You don’t need a tight schedule or a long drive — just a free day and a bit of curiosity. From gyoza to an island aquarium to wasabi soft serve, it’s the kind of day that reminds me why I adore exploring my own backyard. If you make it out to Izu-Ohito, I’d love to hear which stop was your favorite! 💛

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