To All Love Livers : Practical Guide To Visiting Aqours' Hometown Numazu
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In my previous article, I showed you pictorial comparisons of places in Numazu that the girls of Aqours appeared in the Love Live Sunshine anime versus in real life. Here, I will provide detailed instructions for pilgrims who intend to pay these places an actual visit.
I will take the starting point to be Tokyo station.
Awashima Marine Park – From Tokyo station, take either JR Tokaido Main Line or Shinkansen to Atami station. From Atami station, transfer to another Tokaido train bound for Numazu station. From Numazu station south exit, take a bus from platform 8 bound for any of these places “大瀬崎, 長浜,江梨, 木負”. Do ask the driver to inform you to alight at Awashima. I missed my stop when I visited the place because it wasn’t obvious.
Mito Sea Paradise – The official website says to take a bus from Izu-Nagaoka station, which is the fastest way to directly arrive at Mitosea.
However, it is actually walkable from the Awashima bus stop. It is a 20 minutes’ walk. However if you do want to only visit Mitosea, here’s the directions. From Tokyo station, take either JR Tokaido Main Line or Shinkansen to Atami station. From Atami station, transfer to another Tokaido train bound for Mishima station. From Mishima station, transfer to Izuhakone Railway to Izu-Nagaoka station, then take a 20 minutes’ bus to Mitosea. Take note that Izuhakone Railway stations do not use Suica/Pasmo, so you need to buy a ticket.
Yasudaya Inn – Same stop as Mitosea, followed by a very short walk.
Nagaisaki Junior High School – I don’t recommend visiting this place, as it is an actual high school, not a tourist attraction. You may visit to take a picture of the school gate... if that's enough for you. It is short walk away from Mitosea.
Here’s a picture of Google maps indicating the locations of the four places. They are indicated with stars.
It is possible to complete the entire pilgrimage on foot after arriving at the first stop.
You can either start with Awashima or Mito Sea Paradise.
If starting point is Awashima :
1) From Tokyo station, take JR Tokaido Main Line to Atami station (last station).
2) From Atami station, transfer to Numazu station 3 stations away.
3) From Numazu station, take a Tokaido bus to Awashima bus stop.
4) Buy a ticket and ride a boat to Awashima, and back again.
5) From Awashima bus stop, walk for 20 minutes to Mito Sea Paradise. Just follow the coast and you can’t get lost.
6) From Mito Sea Paradise, walk to Nagaisaki Junior High School.
7) From Nagaisaki Junior High School, walk to Yasudaya Inn.
8) From Yasudaya Inn, walk back to Mito Sea Paradise bus stop and take bus to Izu-Nagaoka station.
9) From Izu-Nagaoka station, take Izuhakone Railway to Mishima station.
10) From Mishima station, take JR Tokaido Main Line to Atami station.
11) From Atami, transfer to another JR Tokaido Main Line train back to Tokyo station.
If starting point is Mito Sea Paradise :
1) From Tokyo station, take JR Tokaido Main Line to Atami station (last station).
2) From Atami station, transfer to Mishima station 2 stations away.
3) From Mishima station, transfer to Izuhakone Railway and alight at Izu-Nagaoka station.
4) From Izu-Nagaoka station, take a bus to Mitosea.
5) From Mitosea bus stop, walk to Nagaisaki Junior Highschool.
6) From Nagaisaki Junior Highschool, walk to Yasudaya Inn.
7) From Yasudaya Inn, walk for about 20 minutes to Awashima bus stop.
8) Buy a ticket and ride a boat to Awashima, and back again.
9) From Awashima bus stop, take a Tokaido bus to Numazu station.
10) From Numazu station, take a Tokaido Main Line train to Atami Station 3 stations away.
11) From Atami, transfer to another JR Tokaido Main Line train back to Tokyo station.
For those unfamiliar with travelling in Japan, here's a very useful website called Hyperdia where you can check train routes and timetable in English. The station names you need to know are : Atami, Numazu, Mishima, and Izu-Nagaoka.
Enjoy your Love Live Sunshine pilgrimage! Feel free to ask me anything. I visited Numazu many times so I am very familiar with it.