Day trip 2023/09/16 Izukogen

The Japan East Railways offers train passes for visiting foreigners, but there is a 3-day train pass that is offered to foreigners living with a Japan as long as they have a valid passport. I took advantage of this train pass and went on 3 day trips over a 3-day weekend back in September. It was fun, but exhausting!

Part of the fun in taking day trips is eating a bento (packed lunch) on the train. Major stations usually have a shop that open from 7am and sell bento boxes or rice balls for passengers to buy and enjoy on the train. 

I went to Izukogen first. I took an express train called Odoriko to Izukogen. I've been there before, so I vaguely knew my way around. Going to see suspension bridges was on the itinerary for this trip. I went to see 2, one near the Izukogen station that's part of a hiking trail. I liked this bridge much better than the other one I went to. 

   

Although it was slightly overcast, it was pretty warm out and the breeze off the ocean felt good. There were tourists, but not so much that it felt overcrowded, unlike the other one I visited that day. 

It felt good walking in nature. Beyond the trail, there's this little falls, but there wasn't much water since it hasn't rained much lately. 

I headed back to the station to head to the other suspension bridge. The station I got off at was really cute, looking like a log cabin, but unmanned. The pass I had didn't work with the IC card machine, but it wasn't a problem since I had to show the pass when I went back to the Izukogen station. 

Google maps said the bridge was about a 20-minute walk from the station. At my pace, it was more like 30-40. 30 downhill, 40 back uphill. I get to the bridge, and to my dismay, it will filled with tourists. I guess this bridge was more famous than the other one. The view was nice, but there were way too many people for me to enjoy it. There was a lighthouse at this bridge, but I didn't have the energy to climb up the stairs to enjoy the view. 

Another thing I like about the Izukogen station is that there's a foot bath to soak weary feet. Since it was still warm, the foot bath had cold water in it. Despite the cold water, it felt good to soak my tootsies before I got on the express train going back.