The line approximately parallels the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula, a tourist district noted for its numerous hot spring resorts, and golf courses, between Itō Station in Itō and Izukyū Shimoda Station in Shimoda.

However, funding was limited in the 1930s due to a combination of a tight fiscal policy under Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi during the Great Depression, and a number of technical issues.

On March 30, 1935, the initial 8.7 km section of the Itō Line linking Atami with Ajiro was opened.

However, several varieties of limited express trains operated by JR East originate at Tokyo Station travel via the Itō Line tracks to Ito, and then terminate at Izukyū-Shimoda.

Similarly, the Resort Odoriko operated by the Izu Kyūkō Line also makes the same run, but using different rolling stock.