After fully enjoying a seaside drive in West Izu, head to the popular drive-in located along the Izu Jukan Expressway (Shuzenji Road)Strawberry PlazaTo "Izu-ya-san" (Izu-ya-san)... It's a great place to stop for a break during your trip, and it's also a stop that's packed with travel delights, with a wide variety of souvenirs unique to Izu and sweets that will make you want to take a bite. For our family, it's a favorite place we always want to visit whenever we come to Izu. This time too, we'll enjoy the last stop while savoring the lingering memories of our trip.
Berry Berry Crepe, a famous crepe shop featuring Izu strawberries.
After parking the car in the parking lot, the first place we headed to was the building located on the premises,Berry Berry Crepe by ichigo plazaThis is a crepe shop specializing in strawberries, with Izu strawberries as the main ingredient. At the back of the shop, there is a spacious open terrace surrounded by greenery, and it's great that you can enjoy sweets with your pet. It's a comfortable space where you can relax and spend time with your beloved dog during your travels.
This popular shop offers luxurious crepes made with freshly picked strawberries from Izu, chewy, handmade dough, carefully crafted homemade cream, and an abundance of carefully selected fruits from various regions.
Perfect for the intense heat of summer, this recommended gelato is a must-try! Let's enjoy their recommended summer menu.
On the open terrace, a pleasant mist is sprayed, adding a refreshing coolness with negative ions to the space surrounded by lush greenery. Even on the hottest summer days, it's wonderful to be able to relax with your dog while gazing at the greenery of the trees.
Chocolat seemed to be relaxing comfortably, taking a moment to recover from the fatigue of her journey.
I was tempted by the crepes, but in this season of strong summer sunshine, I opted for a cool and refreshing gelato.
Salted Milk x Strawberry Double Gelato 800 yen
Made with locally sourced Tanna milk, the "Salted Milk" gelato boasts a deep flavor profile with the richness and mellow sweetness of milk, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of salt. It's an addictive taste that will have you wanting bite after bite. Paired with this is the sweet and tart "Strawberry" gelato, generously filled with chunks of fruit. The rich milkiness and the refreshing acidity of the strawberries combine exquisitely, resulting in a rich yet clean and light aftertaste that cools you down instantly. The sweet and salty combination of salted milk and strawberries is addictive, making it the perfect gelato for summer!
The view from the terrace seats overlooks a tranquil rural landscape. As you gaze upon the lush green fields and gentle mountain ranges, and are enveloped in a pleasant breeze, time seems to slow down so much that you might forget you're even on a trip.
As I glanced up, keeping an eye on the open terrace, I noticed an adorable figurine of a mother dog and her puppy perched on a swing on a large tree branch, swaying gently in the breeze. This unexpected and playful touch brought a smile to my face.
The popular "Daifukuya" and fragrant Japanese flavors
The famous "DaifukuyaThis shop is also very popular, and is bustling with many customers. In addition to their signature "strawberry daifuku," the goheimochi and skewered dango, which are grilled to perfection right in front of the shop, are also very appetizing. Even if you've just enjoyed a sweet gelato, the savory aroma is so tempting that you can't help but reach out and grab something.
"Izu Souvenir Hall" is lined with a wide variety of delicacies and local specialties.
「Hand-bakedThese rice crackers are made with dough using "Haenuki" rice from Shonai, Yamagata Prefecture, coated with a secret soy sauce glaze, and then grilled to perfection over binchotan charcoal made from ubame oak. Each cracker is carefully baked using traditional methods, resulting in a rich flavor and a delightfully crisp texture.
The enticing aroma wafting from the "Noyaki Dango" being grilled right in front of the shop will make you stop in your tracks.
Since dogs are not allowed in the souvenir shop, we waited outside with Chocolat while my husband and I took turns going inside.
Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of the "Souvenir Hall" and experience the rich food culture unique to Izu. A wide variety of Izu's tokoroten (agar jelly) and other Japanese sweets are available, including "Izu no Tokoroten," a specialty of West Izu, as well as the famous "Naga Okashi Manju" and souvenir sweets made with Izu's local products. There are items to take home as mementos of your trip, making souvenir shopping a delightful experience.
At the special wasabi pickle and wasabi miso corner, you'll find a wide variety of wasabi products, a specialty of Izu. From handmade wasabi pickles and wasabi miso in Otaru style, to value-packed bulk sets, there's something for everyone. You can also enjoy tastings, allowing you to choose your favorite while checking the flavors.
In the processed seafood and fish products section, you'll find a large refrigerated display case filled with Shizuoka's famous "kuro hanpen," as well as chikuwa, various types of kamaboko, and seafood unique to Izu. These items are perfect not only as snacks to accompany drinks but also as a side dish for your meal.
At "Ichigo Plaza," the "Berry Berry Crepe" features an adorable heart and strawberry frame, making it a great photo spot during your trip. We ended the day with a commemorative photo surrounded by strawberries, together with Chocolat. This added another memorable moment to our trip. Our summer trip began with lunch at "Vibra Vivre" in Kannami, followed by a moment of tranquility at the revisited "Sanyo-so," and breathtaking ocean views in West Izu. We concluded the trip by enjoying sweets and souvenir shopping at "Ichigo Plaza." Our summer trip to Izu with our beloved dog, Chocolat, has now come to an end. With many memories in our hearts, we head home, looking forward to what season of Izu we will encounter next.
Strawberry Plaza
Address: 1788-2 Minami-Ema, Izunokuni City, Shizuoka Prefecture 410-2221
Opening hours: 9:00-18:00
Closed: Open all year round
https://15plaza.com/
