Waseda University students and faculty can stay at Seminar Houses starting at 2,200 yen per person per night! They can be used not only by seminars and student clubs, but also by friends. Of the five Seminar Houses in total, this time we will introduce Izukawana Seminar House in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, which is home to the rich nature of the Izu Peninsula, historic hot springs, seafood, and a variety of tourist spots! SJC student staff members Saya Iida and Akane Kashiwazaki will report on the site, including the route from Tokyo and detour spots. Let's take a look at recommended places to eat and travel. Why not try it out during long holidays or weekends?
*All prices in this article include tax. Information is current as of June 2025.
INDEX
▼Introducing the Seminar House where you can enjoy local ingredients and hot springs
▼ Guide to the diverse attractions of historical tourist spots
▼Use Seminar House through MyWaseda!
Introducing the Seminar House where you can enjoy local ingredients and hot springs
SJC Student Staff
Saya Iida, 4th year student, School of Sport Sciences
Akane Kashiwazaki, 4th year student, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
Off to the Seminar House!
Take the JR Express "Odoriko" from Tokyo Station and arrive at Ito Station in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. It's a train ride that's neither too far nor too close, and you can enjoy the view of the sea on your left for the second half of the journey. You can also take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Atami Station and then transfer to the JR Ito Line at Atami Station for the same price, so choose the method that's most convenient for you depending on the time of day.
Left: Ito Station is located in the center of Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, which is thriving due to its hot springs and tourism. In front of the station is an arcade-style shopping street, giving off a Showa-era retro atmosphere. There are also souvenir shops inside the station.
Photo on the right: Our guides on this trip, Kashiwazaki (left) and Iida (right)
It takes about 20 minutes by taxi from Ito Station to the Seminar House. Alternatively, if you take the Tokai Bus, which runs about once every 30 minutes, you can reach the "Komuroyama Ridge Walk ‘MISORA' " bus stop in just over 20 minutes, and then walk to the Seminar House in less than 10 minutes. This will also save you on transportation costs. However, during the beach season, traffic jams can make it take more than twice as long. In that case, you can take the Izu Kyuko Line to Kawana Station, two stops from Ito Station, and then take a 5-minute taxi ride or a 30-minute walk to the Seminar House.
There are no convenience stores around the Seminar House, so it is a good idea to do any shopping you need around Ito Station or Kawana Station. Check-in is from 13:00 to 17:00, and there is a parking lot (※1) with space for 7 to 8 regular passenger cars.
*1 There may be many guests staying at the facility, so if you are coming by car, please carpool as much as possible.
Left photo: Arriving at Izukawana Seminar House! As we walk through a quiet, upscale residential area on a hill, the pure white walls of the Seminar House come into view.
Right photo: Welcoming us with lovely smiles are the managers, Koji Nagashima and Norie Nagashima, who were born and raised in Ito. Until three years ago, Koji worked in apparel at a department store in Tokyo, and Norie had been helping out at a local children's cafeteria for many years, demonstrating her cooking skills.
Iida
Actually, this is my second time here. Last time, I used Kawana Station, but it is a smaller station than Ito Station, so I ordered a taxi instead, since there were no taxis waiting. If you walk from Kawana Station, be careful because it is uphill!
Kashiwazaki
In the reception lobby of the Seminar House, there was a retro audio set, which is also the manager's hobby, and wonderful classical music was playing. There was also a little illumination at the entrance, so I was excited from the moment I entered!
Local ingredients, freshly picked, handmade. Exquisite cuisine made with care
Next, we will introduce the delicious cuisine at Izukawana Seminar House. They specialize in handmade Japanese cuisine using local ingredients. Ito's specialty dried fish is a standard, and there are also a number of side dishes, mainly simmered dishes such as hijiki, soy pulp, and beans, which are perfectly balanced in nutrition. All vegetables are sourced locally, so seasonal produce is provided. The meals are both filling and nutritious, and at 770 yen for breakfast and 1,210 yen for dinner, they are cheap!
Breakfast (left) and dinner (right) at the Seminar House. The main part of the dish is mackerel, and sashimi is included with dinner. You can have as much rice as you like!
And the most popular special dish at Izukawana Seminar House is the sashimi boat platter. It is packed with fresh, seasonal sashimi, such as mackerel and red snapper, procured directly from a nearby fishing port that morning! The boat platter serves five and costs 6,600 yen. Don't forget to make a reservation at least 10 days in advance.
Left: Sashimi boat platter. Prices are based on market value, so the type and amount of fish varies depending on the season and weather.
Right photo: Let's eat in the dining hall! Specially for this interview, we enjoyed breakfast, dinner, and the boat-shaped platter all at once.
Kashiwazaki
Breakfast, dinner, and the platter are all delicious! The homely seasoning will have you eating more and more, and you'll be recharged with energy. The platter looks gorgeous and gets you excited, so it's a must if you're staying with a large group!
A Japanese-style space with tatami mats and a "bath for beautiful skin " with heated water from the source
Another attraction of Izukawana Seminar House is the hot springs. This is the only Seminar House with a hot spring! The water is weakly alkaline and has a moist and smooth texture. It has a high moisturizing effect, so it is recommended for people who tend to have poor circulation as it keeps the body warm after a bath. The water is 43 degrees, which is considered the optimum temperature for hot springs and is good for recovering from fatigue. It is available from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., so you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Men's bathroom. The hot water is said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, etc.
There are 10 Japanese-style rooms (for 4 people) for students and faculty, and 2 Western-style private rooms for faculty only. The Japanese-style rooms are 2 adjacent rooms with 8 tatami mats, so even 4 people can relax comfortably. Each room is equipped with a sink, toilet, small refrigerator, air conditioning, and of course Wi-Fi. However, towels, amenities, and hair dryers are not provided, so please bring what you need. For details on other facilities and equipment, please check the Student Affairs Section website.
(Left) The Japanese-style room has a relaxing inn-like atmosphere. You can lay out your own futon. (Right) The Western-style private rooms for faculty and staff also let in plenty of natural light. Located on a hilltop surrounded by nature, the surroundings are quiet and peaceful.
Guide to the diverse attractions of historical tourist spots
A spectacular spot! A 360-degree view of the deep blue sea and sky
If you come to Izukawana Seminar House, you should definitely go to Komuroyama Ridge Walk "MISORA". It is located just behind the Seminar House, and if you ask the manager, Nagashima, to show you the back roads, you will arrive in just 3 minutes! Komuroyama Park has long been a tourist spot, but this facility, which opened at the summit in 2021, is a viewing spot where you can become one with the deep blue world of sea and sky. We immediately boarded the cute retro lift and headed to the summit.
Left photo: If you go through the back alley of the Seminar House, you will enter the grounds of Komuroyama Park. The building in front of you is the lift station attached to the restaurant. The bus stop for "Komuroyama Ridge Walk ‘MISORA' " is also here.
Photo on the right: The lift takes 5 minutes one way. The round-trip ticket costs 1,000 yen (600 yen one way). You can enjoy a spectacular view from the top of the lift.
While you're still excited from the lift ride, a wooden boardwalk that encircles the summit and a 360-degree world of sea and sky spreads out before your eyes. You'll be surrounded by magnificent views, including Mt. Fuji to the north, Sagami Bay and the Boso Peninsula to the east, the Izu Islands to the south, and the Amagi Mountains to the west.
You will feel as if you are one with nature and experience a sense of freedom that clears your mind.
Once you've become one with nature for a while, head to Café 321 at the summit. All seats have ocean and sky views, and in addition to blended coffee, you can enjoy photogenic original drinks and Izu craft beer. Also, about a 10-minute walk down from the summit is the Dinosaur Square, which is apparently popular with families.
The name of the shop comes from its altitude of 321m. Drinks from the left are MISORA Yogurt Frappe (Blue and Strawberry, both 700 yen), Strata Cafe Latte (650 yen)
Iida
The view from the top of Mt. Komuro is amazing! It's perfect for Instagram! It has a different charm from the view from the train window along the coastline. The original drinks at the cafe were also delicious.
The charm of the tourist destination, Ito
At Komuroyama Park, you can enjoy seasonal flowers all year round, but the Azalea Garden, where 100,000 azaleas of 40 varieties bloom in April, is a must-see. In addition, within a 10-15 minute drive from the Seminar House, there is the Izu Shaboten Zoo, where you can interact with animals such as capybaras, and the Izu Granpal Park, a leisure park where adults can also play actively, making it a great place to play in groups.
Ito also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including 14 fireworks festivals in the summer, so it would be a good idea to use the Seminar House to coincide with these events. If you ask the manager, Mr. Nagashima, when making a reservation, he will introduce you to a BBQ area at Ito Orange Beach, about a 10-minute drive away. "Ask me anything about Ito!" says the dependable manager.
Photo on the left: Approximately 10,000 fireworks are launched at the Anjin Festival held every August (a festival commemorating the construction of Japan's first Western-style sailing ship by Miura Anjin, a diplomatic advisor to Tokugawa Ieyasu). (Photo courtesy of Ito City)
Photo on the right: Ito Orange Beach. A three-minute walk from Ito Station, in the summer beach houses line the area (Photo courtesy of Ito City)
On the way back, take a leisurely stroll and stop off in Atami
From Ito Station, you can return to Tokyo without changing trains by taking the JR Limited Express "Odoriko", but we also recommend getting off at Atami Station. From Ito Station, take the JR Ito Line for five stops and about 25 minutes to Atami Station. It is one of Japan's leading tourist destinations, but it is only a 15-minute walk from the station to Atami Sun Beach, and in front of the station, there are plenty of souvenirs and gourmet food to eat, from the famous hot spring manju and dried fish to sweets that are sure to look great on social media, around the Atami Heiwa-dori Shopping Street and Nakamise Shopping Street! Also, about a 10-minute bus ride away there is Soshisha, where Shoyo Tsubouchi, the Meiji-era literary master who founded School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Waseda University and is famous for his translation of "The Essence of the Novel" and the complete works of Shakespeare, spent his later years. It is open only on weekends (free of charge).
Atami Heiwa-dori Shopping Street is located right in front of Atami Station. There are a variety of shops, from long-established stores that have been in business for 70 years to new, unique shops for young people. On the right in the photo is "Totoya," a dried fish shop that also has an eat-in area.
Iida
When you exit the ticket gate, you'll see a foot bath right in front of you! You might feel a little hesitant at first, but everyone else will be joining in, so don't worry; it'll help you relax after your trip. Don't forget to bring a hand towel!
Kashiwazaki
There are so many different shops in the shopping arcade that you'll have a hard time deciding what souvenirs to buy! The famous Atami pudding is available for takeout, so we recommend eating it on the train on your way home.
"Ieyasu no Yu" is a foot bath located just outside the ticket gates at Atami Station. You can use it for free between 9:00 and 16:00.
What do you think? Were you able to understand the appeal of the Izukawana Seminar House? Feel free to use our "low-cost" Seminar House for your seminar, student club, or trip with friends!
Use the Seminar Houses through MyWaseda!
What are the five Seminar Houses at Waseda University?
Waseda University Seminar House are located in five locations (※2): Karuizawa (Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture), Sugadaira (Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture), Izukawana (Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture), Kamogawa (Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture), and Honjo (Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture). All can be booked through MyWaseda. They can be used not only by seminars, laboratories, and student clubs, but also by students. For details on how to book, see the usage process on the Student Affairs Division website. If you wish to eat, you will be charged a meal fee in addition to the accommodation fee. Please note that there may be an additional fee for using the sports facilities, so please check in advance.
*2 Karuizawa is open only from late April to early November.
Unlike regular inns and hotels, Seminar House operates on a self-service basis. There are also rules for use, so please follow the manager's instructions.
Izukawana Seminar House
所在地：〒414-0044 静岡県伊東市川奈字扇山1427-10
電話：0557-44-5007
FAX：0557-44-5008
事務取扱時間：8:00～20:00（時間厳守・電話による問い合わせもこの時間内に限る）
開設期間：通年（年末年始を除く）
チェックイン：13:00～17:00
チェックアウト：10:00（時間厳守）
予約に関する問い合わせ：早稲田大学学生部学生生活課
Photography: Shiori Banjo
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