[Access] About 5 minutes by bicycle from the center of the city
The famous Jinata Onsen, Ashitsuki Onsen, and Sankai-no-yu in Shikine island are all affected by the flow of the tide, so there are restrictions on when you can enter them. But Matsugashita Miyabi-yu is an artificial open-air bath that is unaffected by the flow of the tide. Even though it’s artificial, as you can see, the view from the hot spring is outstanding. And the fact that it’s close to the city and free to use 24 hours a day is just too good. If I would stay overnight, I would like to come at night and enjoy the hot spring while looking at the beautiful starry sky.
Miyabi-yu draws the hot springs from Jinata Onsen, whose temperature is nearly 80 degrees Celsius. At Jinata Onsen, it is impossible to enter unless the tide is at its perfect timing. But here, the temperature is adjusted with seawater or tap water, so it’s more than comfortable. It’s really wonderful to have such an open-air hot spring in this convenient location, just a short walk from Shikine island port. Since the hot springs on Shikine island require bathing suits, it is possible to enjoy this authentic open-air bath with the whole family.
I was indeed impressed that there is such a beautiful emerald green beach in Tokyo, Tomari beach, which is the perfect place to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with your children in the calm sea.
Tomari beach, with its beautiful fan-shaped sandy beach and emerald green color, is probably the most famous beach in Shikine Island. However, other beaches on Shikine island are also amazingly beautiful. Here at Nakanoura Beach, you can see small fish and coral, so you can enjoy the whole day. Now I want to stay longer to enjoy beaches and hot springs.
Each of the Izu seven islands has a slightly different type of “shima-zushi” (sushi with soy marinated fishes), and eating it is one of the things I enjoy most. The one in Shikine island is similar as the one in Hachijo island, and is served with mustard. It’s not nigiri, but a donburi, which I don’t see very often. In the same supermarket, I found kusaya, sun dried fishes which has a very pungent smell :), which is local delicacy.