Hot Spot

GETTING INTO HOT WATER Throw a dart at a map of the Izu Peninsula and you'll likely hit an onsen , or hot spring. These naturally occurring geothermic sources are the primary reason Japanese tourists flock to the Izu, and rightly so: the baths, often attached to hotels, make for a stress-killing date with relaxation. Shimoda and its environs boast a number of splendid onsen inns, or ryokan , like the Kannon, 15 kilometers out of town. A room for one including two meals goes for $120 a night. Call (81-55) 828 1234 for reservations. But if you just want to take...