Izu Peninsula

The Izu Peninsula is a mountainous landmass located on the Pacific coast of Honshu. Honshu is the largest of the four main islands of Japan. The peninsula sits just west of Tokyo. Today, it is part of the Shizuoka Prefecture. It features a coastline that is deeply indented with many curves. In 2005, the estimated population of the area was 473,942 people. Most of these residents live in the northern and eastern parts of the peninsula.

The geology of Izu is driven by the movement of tectonic plates. The peninsula lies on the Philippine Sea Plate. This plate is colliding with the Okhotsk Plate at the Nankai Trough. There is also the Amurian Plate involved in this area. These three plates meet at a triple junction located at Mount Fuji. This intense geological activity shapes the entire landscape. It creates both beautiful features and natural hazards for the people living there.

Different parts of the peninsula are made of different materials. The southern portion consists largely of breccia. Breccia is a type of rock made of broken fragments. The central and northern regions are different. They consist of many volcanoes that have undergone heavy erosion. The Amagi Mountain Range dominates the center of the peninsula. This range includes Mount Amagi and Mount Atami in the east. Mount Daruma is located in the west. These mountains even extend underwater into Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay.

Plate tectonics also created specific valleys and water features. The Kano River is the major river in the north. It flows through a graben valley. A graben is a valley formed when the Earth's crust pulls apart. Because of this underlying geology, the peninsula has many hot springs. These are known as onsen. However, the same geological forces make the area prone to earthquake swarms. The region also faces the risk of tsunamis.

The economy of the peninsula relies on several different industries. Tourism is a very important part of local life. Izu is a popular resort region for people from the Kantō region. Many visitors go to onsen resorts in Atami, Shuzenji, and Itō. People also visit for sea bathing, surfing, golfing, and motorcycle touring. The area is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. In 1937, the southwest coast was named a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

Agriculture and fishing are also mainstays of the local economy. Izu is one of the largest producers of wasabi in Japan. Local cuisine often features dishes flavored with this plant. Despite these industries, the area faces a challenge with its population. There is a heavy loss of people to Greater Tokyo and Shizuoka. This trend is particularly noticeable among the younger generation. This movement of people is a significant shift for the local communities.

Traveling to and within the peninsula involves many different methods. The northern parts are easy to reach from Tokyo. Travelers can use the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, which is a high-speed train. This train has stations at Atami in the northeast and Mishima in the northwest. The JR Itō Line and the Izu Kyūkō Line serve the east coast. These lines run toward Shimoda, but they are less regular due to low population. The Sunzu Line serves central Izu as far as Shuzenji.

The west coast is less developed and has no train service. Drivers must use expressways or national routes to explore this side. Japan National Routes 135, 136, and 414 all serve the area. There are also two scenic roads called the Izu Skyline and the Western Izu Skyline. These roads are favorite spots for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. They offer beautiful views of nature and Mount Fuji.

History also marks the airspace above the peninsula. On August 12, 1985, Flight JAL 123 was crossing the area. The plane experienced an explosion in the aft pressure bulkhead. This accident killed 520 people. It remains one of the deadliest air disasters in human history.