Weird Attractions in Izu

I planned on having a rad writeup about all the totally random attractions, theme parks, and dodgy bubble economy left overs in Izu. Timing was perfect. 3 weeks of summer camp work, with a random few days off in the middle. While the other staff would take the express rapid train back to Tokyo, I was going to slowly ride the bike around, camp, and visit 80s sex museums, ruined water parks, and turtleariums. All of which exist.

But a typhoon came for exactly the days I had off. So I too took said express rapid back to Tokyo. Upon my return, had a little bit of good weather, so the multi day tour was more like a few hours.

Anyways, here are a few oddities out of the many from the peninsula 150km from Tokyo. Enjoy!

Izu Animal Kingdom

Fairly standard, depressing zoo. But it has a...

... Shinto poo shrine? Elephant doodie if I recall.

メキシカンサンド - Mexican sandwich. A pita (?) pocket filled with taco meat and a chorizo. Hot! Spicy! New!

Some poor kid made an official wish at a shrine. The dream is to have an internet penpal. Why not include your mail address with the wish, T.S.? A no-brainer, ね?

Atagawa is rad!

Onsen vents all over the place. But is something special about this one?

Yes!

You can cook your own eggs in it. A natural hot spring dedicated to deliciousness.

温泉卵, them eggs were pretty damn tasty, with a little local sea salt on top.

Up above the onsen is a whole mountain covered with windmills.

But the highlight of Atagawa, in the South East of Izu is...

The Banana Alligator Farm. For like $20 you can check out a bunch of gators, then see banana trees. Thats about it. But it was still kick ass.

Not too crowded!

Souvenirs include a banana-croc-hybrid plush.

Rad banana ice cream.

And a plate of banana curry.

I will be back again, and when I do, I will be sure to hit up some enka music museums, wasabi farms, and other random things.

Izu... for when you did everything else.