Okawa Onsen is a small hot spring area in Higashi-Izu, on the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. Compared with the better-known resorts nearby, it has a quieter, more local feel, with traditional inns and a setting shaped by the close meeting of steep green slopes and the Pacific coast.
For travelers drawn to the slower side of Izu, Okawa Onsen works best as a place to settle in rather than rush through. The appeal is simple: sea air, a compact coastal townscape, and the easy rhythm of an onsen stay, where the day naturally narrows to bathing, eating well, and watching the light change over the water.