AnimeTrails
Awa Island and Mount Fuji from Uchiura Bay, ShizuokaPhoto: Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0

Love Live! Sunshine!! in Numazu: 1-Day Route from Tokyo

  • 1 day
  • Tokyo Station round trip (Shinkansen to Mishima)

Love Live! Sunshine!! is set in Numazu, a port city on Suruga Bay, and Numazu City officially counts the series' locations among its "100 Treasures". Most of the story happens in Uchiura, a quiet bay south of the center with Awashima island just offshore. The city has also installed 23 manhole covers with the series' art. This route takes the Shinkansen from Tokyo, starts with the covers at Numazu Station, rides the local bus out to Uchiura for Awashima and Mito Beach, and comes back to Numazu Port for the sunset view from Byuo.

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The four things to sort before you go.

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The route

  1. 1Numazu Station South Exit Manhole · Numazu, Shizuoka
  2. 2Awashima Marine Park · Numazu, Shizuoka
  3. 3Mito Beach · Numazu, Shizuoka
  4. 4Nagahama Castle Ruins · Numazu, Shizuoka
  5. 5Byuo Observation Water Gate · Numazu, Shizuoka

Day by day

Times, fares and opening hours are approximate. Check the official pages under Sources before you go (last checked 2026-09-18).

Day 1

Tokyo → Numazu Station → Uchiura → Numazu Port → Tokyo

Manhole covers in town, Awashima and Mito Beach by bus, sunset at the port.

  1. Early morning

    Tokyo → Mishima → Numazu

    Take a Kodama on the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Mishima (approx. 1 hr; in the 2026 timetable Kodama 801 leaves Tokyo at 6:30 and reaches Mishima at 7:26). Change to the JR Tokaido Line for Numazu, the next station (approx. 5 min). Awashima Marine Park opens at 9:30, so there is no need to take the very first train.

  2. Morning

    Numazu Station south exit and the manhole covers

    The station's south exit appears in the first season. On the plaza, on the west side of the Numazu Sangyo Building, is the Love Live! Sunshine!! manhole cover that Numazu City installed in June 2026. Three more colour covers are in the Nakamise shopping street nearby; the city changes them about every four months. The city's official manhole map shows where all 23 are.

    Spot guide: Numazu Station South Exit Manhole

  3. Morning

    Tokai Bus to Uchiura

    From the south exit, stop 3, take a Tokai Bus bound for Kizure Nokyo or Eri and get off at Marine Park (approx. 30 min, approx. ¥840; approx. ¥970 from October 1, 2026). Buses run roughly twice an hour. Tokai Bus says its buses appear in the anime, and Love Live! Sunshine!! wrapped buses are in service.

  4. Late morning

    Awashima Marine Park

    A boat leaves the pier next to the car park about every 15 minutes and reaches the island in approx. 3 min; the fare is included in admission (approx. ¥3,000 adult). The city's tourism portal says the Frog Pavilion is the model for Kanan's diving shop and the path up to Awashima Shrine is where Aqours train. Ask staff whether the path is open before you start: it is a steep climb. Allow 2-3 hours.

    Spot guide: Awashima Marine Park

  5. Early afternoon

    Mito Beach and Sannoura

    Ride the bus one stop (approx. 3 min) to Mito, or walk along the shore (approx. 20 min). Mito Beach is the small beach that comes back in key scenes, with Awashima across the water. Izu-Mito Sea Paradise is next door if you want a second aquarium (approx. ¥2,600 adult, open approx. 9:00-17:30). A little further on, the Sannoura tourist information center from episode 6 is open approx. 9:00-17:00.

    Spot guide: Mito Beach

  6. Afternoon

    Nagahama Castle Ruins

    Walk on to the ruins of a Hojo clan sea fort, which also appear in episode 6. A Love Live! Sunshine!! manhole cover is here, and from the top there is a view of Mt. Fuji over the bay. Catch the bus back to Numazu Station from the Nagahama-joseki stop (approx. 30-40 min).

    Spot guide: Nagahama Castle Ruins

  7. Late afternoon

    Numazu Port and Byuo

    From Numazu Station, a bus to Numazu Port takes approx. 10-15 min (approx. ¥200; approx. ¥230 from October 1, 2026). Byuo, the port's giant water gate, appears in episode 11. The deck is open approx. 10:00-20:00 (Thursdays until 14:00) and costs approx. ¥300. The city's manhole map shows another cover near the port food street.

    Spot guide: Byuo Observation Water Gate

  8. Evening

    Dinner at Minato 83, back to Tokyo

    Minato 83 at Numazu Port has seafood restaurants, shops and the deep-sea aquarium; hours vary by shop. Then bus or taxi back to Numazu Station, JR to Mishima and the Shinkansen to Tokyo.

Check Shinkansen tickets: Tokaido Shinkansen Arriving? Japan eSIM

Where to stay

Mount Fuji and Awashima Island, Numazu, Shizuoka

Stay in

Numazu

Stay near the station to start early or to split the day in two: Uchiura one day, the port and town the next.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Numazu
Izu-Nagaoka

Stay in

Izu-Nagaoka

A hot spring town on the Izu-Hakone Railway, with a bus to Izu-Mito Sea Paradise in Uchiura.

Prices change by season. Compare live rates.

See hotels in Izu-Nagaoka

Getting around

Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo ↔ Mishima)

JR Central's Kodama stops at Mishima. At Mishima change to the JR Tokaido Line for Numazu, one stop. Reserve a seat on busy weekends.

Check Shinkansen tickets Official info

Tokai Bus "Awashima Marine Park" pack

approx. ¥3,800 (adult); approx. ¥4,000 from October 1, 2026

A round-trip bus ticket from Numazu Station plus park admission. Buy it at the Tokai Bus office in the Numazu Sangyo Building by the south exit (closed Thursdays, Sundays and holidays) or at the Numazu Tourism Association.

Official info

IC card (Suica / PASMO)

Tokai Bus accepts Suica, PASMO and the other nationwide IC cards, which is the easiest way to pay for the Uchiura and port buses.

Izu-Hakone Bus (from Izu-Nagaoka)

If you stay in Izu-Nagaoka, Izu-Hakone Bus runs from Izu-Nagaoka Station to Izu-Mito Sea Paradise (approx. 25 min).

Visiting with respect

  • Uchiura is a small fishing community where people live. Keep your voice down, don't block the narrow road or the bus stops, and don't photograph residents or their homes.
  • Several places in the anime are models for private homes, a working inn, a hotel and a school. Don't enter them or photograph them from their grounds; see them only if you are a guest.
  • Manhole covers are in the street and on sidewalks. Stand clear of traffic and people walking past.
  • Awashima Marine Park asks visitors to come in cosplay only on its cosplay event days, and not to change clothes in the toilets.
  • Take your trash home from the beach and the castle ruins.

FAQ

Is Awashima Marine Park still open?

Yes. When we checked in September 2026 the park's site was posting news and announcing events for October 2026. It closes only for maintenance or bad weather, so check the site on the day.

Can I see both aquariums in one day?

It's tight. Each needs 2 hours or more. Pick Awashima Marine Park for the island and the Love Live! Sunshine!! events, or Izu-Mito Sea Paradise if you are short on time, since it is right by Mito Beach.

Can I visit Chika's house or the school?

No. The models for the characters' homes are a working inn, a hotel and private homes, and the school model is a real school. This route sticks to public places.

Where are all the manhole covers?

Numazu City publishes an official map of the 23 Love Live! Sunshine!! covers, most around Numazu Station, the Nakamise shopping street, Numazu Port and Uchiura. The three colour covers in Nakamise street change about every four months.

Is there more to see in town?

The city's route page also lists Plaza Verde (with a colour manhole and the steam locomotive from Aqours concerts) and Numazu Civic Culture Center, where Aqours sing in episode 11 and colour covers are on display.

Book this trip

Everything on this route, in the order most people book it.

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Sources18 official pages, checked 2026-09-18

Photo credits