The Izu Peninsula about 100 km southwest of Tokyo is a sheer delight in many ways, not the least of which is that there’re plenty of kangaroos there at the moment!
Not that they’re real roos jumping around here and there on the peninsula.
Some of the zoos and animal parks in the area, which is blessed with glorious coastlines and numerous mountains, do have their marsupials.
But the kangaroos that stand out most to the ordinary visitor are the life-sized PVC statues plugging Izu Shaboten Zoo (notable for its various different types of cacti).
The zoo is located at the foot of the amazing Mount Omuro, which is shorn of most of its foliage each winter by being set alight in a spectacular bonfire.
Mount Omuro also offers panoramic views of southeastern Izu, including some of the most spectacular vistas of Mount Fuji imaginable.
The Kangaeroos got to spend some time in the area recently, even managing to snap a few illuminated marsupials as well.
Kangaroos, potaroos, wallabies and emus give the Izu Shaboten Zoo a bit of an Aussie flavor.
