Takichiyama Enchi — a quiet viewpoint by Atami Pass on the Izu Skyline
Just past the Atami Pass tollgate at the north end of the Izu Skyline. A small viewpoint where, on a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the hot-spring town of Atami all in one frame — easy to miss from the road.
On the way back from a Golden Week drive through Izu, I stopped by a place I'd been to before. The north end of the Izu Skyline, just past the Atami Pass tollgate. Takichiyama Enchi — a modest viewpoint that, on a clear day, lets you see Mt. Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the hot-spring town of Atami all at once.
The entrance is easy to miss. The more obvious "Takichiyama Observation Deck" sits right next door, so plenty of drivers go past without ever realizing this one exists. I found it the first time by accident, while trying to get to the deck.
A year ago, with my parents
My first visit was about a year ago. My parents had come up from Fukuoka to visit, and on the way back from a drive through Izu we stopped here for a break.
It was clear that day too, and Fuji was sharp on the horizon. I got to take a photo of my parents with Suruga Bay and the streets of Atami spread out behind them — a small way of being a good son, given how rarely we get to see each other.
If you live in Tokyo and your parents occasionally come in from another part of the country to sightsee, a drive along the Izu Skyline ridge with a stop at Takichiyama Enchi is a combination I'd recommend.
What you can see
On a clear day, almost nothing blocks the view.
- Mt. Fuji ahead
- Suruga Bay to the right
- The hot-spring town of Atami below
The only thing in the way is a single steel tower off in one corner. Otherwise, it's an honest, wide-open view.
The feel of the place
The parking area is large and well kept. There are several benches, and it would be a fine place to spread out a packed lunch.
It also turns out to be a paragliding launch site. When I came a year ago, several gliders were riding the air with Mt. Fuji as their backdrop. This Golden Week, the wind was strong, so no one was flying.
Instead, a biker was taking a photo of his bike with Fuji behind it. I liked the composition, repositioned my own car, and copied him.
One thing to know: there are no toilets. Take care of that beforehand.
Getting there
Heading from Tokyo toward Atami or Ito, you basically have two routes:
- A. Odawara-Atsugi Road → Seisho Bypass → along the coast
- B. Hakone Shindo → Izu Skyline → over the mountain
On long weekends, the coast route is almost guaranteed to put you in traffic. I've tried it a few times. None of those drives are happy memories.
If the weather is clear, route B over the mountain wins by a long way. The Izu Skyline ridge drive itself is the main course of scenery, and Takichiyama Enchi makes a perfectly placed rest stop along it.
If you've got family in the car, watch for carsickness — no hurry, take it slow, stop often.
Notes for the road
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, on the Izu Skyline |
| Google Maps | Search "滝知山展望台 駐車場" (Takichiyama Tenboudai Chushajo) |
| Tolls | Within the free section just past Atami Pass IC |
| Parking | Spacious, free |
| Toilets | None — go before you arrive |
| Best time | Clear days — Fuji is at its best from autumn through spring, when the air is clear |
The Izu Skyline, Takichiyama Enchi. A little past the Atami Pass tollgate — drive carefully so you don't miss the turn. On a clear day you get Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the streets of Atami all at once — I hope it makes for a good small detour on someone's trip.