Shuzenji

The hot spring town of Shuzenji was our final stop on our Izu road trip before heading back home to Tokyo. To be honest, we weren’t really planning on checking it out, save for the fact that our return route basically passed by the town anyway, so then we figured we may as well stop. There was supposed to be a coffee roaster open here called Koto where you can roast your own beans - unfortunately it seemed it had closed early. Otherwise, the town is home to a Pokemon manhole. It’s only one of 5 in Shizuoka Prefecture, and the only one in Izu. As for why it’s panda-themed, it’s because there is a small bamboo grove that you can walk through. Shuzenji takes its name from the Shuzenji Temple, which was founded in 807. The temple was founded by Kobo Daishi. A monk born in the 8th century, he’s said to have travelled around Japan, striking the earth with his walking stick to make hot springs with restorative properties well up. A Kobo water spot A couple of years ago when we visited…