It was very hot and was almost summer here in Shimoda today.
I went to Yumigahama beach near the tip of Izu peninsula, 20 minutes driving from Sakuraya, with my wife and son this afternoon.
My son was very happy and excited to play with his mother, because he doesn't have many oppotunities like this.
We set up Koinobori which is carp-shaped streamer today.
Families with boys in Japan fly Koinobori outside from April to ealy May in honor of Children's Day May 5th which is originally boy's fesitival.
We also set up Koinobori in honor of my son for a good future and in the hope that he will grow up healthy and strong.
I'm a member of Chorus in Shimoda, and we will have a concert with a professional chorus group, "Tokyo Philhermonic Chorus" and the conductor "Kazuki Yamada" on July 12th 2015.
Mr. Yamada got the 1st prize of International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, France in 2009.
He has come to Shimoda a lot of times since 1998, and we had a lot of concerts with him until now.
He came to Shimoda yesterday again and we had a special practice for the next concert with him.
It was a great time for us and we were defenitely developed by him.
We had a little strong west wind, but it was very hot like early summer today.
I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" to play with my son this afternoon.
There are two loquat trees in our field.
They say February is the best season to make herbal loquat tea, so I made this tea after a long time.
The loquat herbal tea may benefit blood sugar and cholesterol, prevent loss of bone density, have anti-cancer benefits and so on.
It takes a little long time to make it, but this tea is non-caffeine, and also it's very delicious with sweet taste.
And of course it's good for diet !!
Where the strong wind yesterday has gone?
We had very strong west wind yesterday, but there was no wind today.
I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" after a long time.
After we finished cleaning the guest rooms we went to Shirahama shrine, just only 3 minutes by car from Pension Sakuraya.
At the beginning of new year many Japanese go to shrines to make wishes for the coming year.
As it was very beautiful day there were a lot of people in the shrine field and on the beach.
They are from the United States of America and have lived in Tokyo since 2 months ago.
On the 2nd day, as we had very strong north wind they went to Tatado Beach in Shimoda, and they went to the same beach again because of the wind on the 3rd day and went to Onsen in Kawazu town after the beach.
When they had dinner I talked about the career of my wife and me, that we were classical ballet dancers long time ago, and after that, they showed us their children' s picture of ballet before moving to Japan.
We had very good time with you and look forward to meeting you again.
Thank you very much for staying with us.
It was cloudy this morning, but it became rainy after that.
I cleaned up the dining room and waxed the floor today.
It took a long time to do it, because I had to put all things in this room out.
After putting everything out, the dining room looked like a gymnasium.
My son played in this room after school.
I went to the beach after school after a long time.
After rainy days we sometimes have good waves in Shirahama.
We had a little strong west wind, but it was very hot today.
There were some surfers on the beach because of the good waves.
They weather forecast says it will be sunny again.
Have a nice weekend!
The sand art cometition of Shirahama primary school was held by PTA this afternoon as an anual event.
All of school students participated this competition and the parents supported their children.
It was sunny but not very hot, so this is good condition for sand working.
Click here to see the other photos.
After that my son and I came back home by walking on the beach.
It has been sunny since last Friday, but it was the most beautiful day of this weekend today.
We didn't have wind and we could see Izu Oshima island clearly from the terrace of Pension Sakuraya.
There are many kinds of flower around Pension Sakuraya and the flowers are now blooming.
Yes, the summer has come here in Shimoda!
By the way, this is our son, Yuuki.
He was putting on the his elder sister's hut.
We will have the children's day on May 5th, so I stood up the carp streamer for my son yesterday.
We had a little wind, but it was sunny and very warm here in Shimoda today.
I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" with my son to take pictures.
As they had good waves there were a lot of surfers on the beach.
You can see the other pictures on Pension Sakuraya's Facebook here.
I went to Shimoda with my son for cycling today.
All of Sakura trees in Shimoda are almost fully blooming.
My daughter got a fresh seaweed "Wakame" which her friend's parents got from Shirahama Beach today.
We had dinner with this seaweed as cooking with vegetables in a pot.
Wild fresh seaweed "Wakame" is changed its color soon after putting them into the hot water!
Thank you for wonderful present!!
It was sunny and very warm today, so I went to Minami Izu town with my son to ride a bicycle and play on the beach.
We had a little south wind, but it was very warm here in Shirahama today.
So my son and I went to the beach this afternoon.
It was a first time for us to get into the sea water, but it wasn't cold.
Click here to see the other photos which I took on the beach today.
We had very beautiful day with blue sky today after a long time.
Yesterday they had huge waves here in Shirahama and there was nobody for surfing.
But there were some surfers in the water because it was good condition for surfing today.
After I walked on the seaside road I went to Shimoda to play with my son and we took Free Foot Spa at Shimoda harbor.
Yesterday they had a heavy snowfalls around Tokyo.
It was stormy day in Shimoda, but we didn't have much snow here in Shirahama.
So I went to Amagi mountain, about 30 minutes by car, with my son today.
He was very excited with a lot of snow!!
We went to Shirahama shrine as a first visit of the new year 2014.
Most of Japanese visit to a Shinto shrine during
The typhoon #27 passed away yesterday, but we didn't have any damages.
I took this picture on Shirahama Beach this after noon on the way to Shimoda.
I went to Shimoda for shopping with my family.
We had very good day under the blue sky.
By the way, I started cleaning our guest rooms 3 days ago.
When we have a lot of customers in busy season we can't do it, so and waxed the floor of the Western style room after I got all of things out of room.
A family who have stayed with us during last Golden Week came to
Sakuraya and stayed for the second time.
Their children are very cute!
We miss you, little girls!
See you someday again!
Last night and today we didn't have many
customers I went to Ebisujima island for snorkeling with my son this
afternoon.
Even my son is in summer holiday we can't go and travel anywhere because of our job, so I decided to go for him.
Before we arrived at this island it was cloudy but it became sunny after that.
There were some people who were snorkeling with swim wear there, but my son put on the wet suit because the north wind was a little cold for him.
Today we got an envelope via airmail.
It was sent from our customers who came from Switzerland and stayed at Sakuraya for 8 nights in last April.
We found out some drawings which were given to my son from the children and a postcard of their hometown.
My son remembers the children because he played UNO with them many times, and of course he is excited very much to get these presents.
When I took these photos my son was just going
to bed, so he looks a little sleepy.
But I'm sure that these presents made him very happy!!!
Thank you very much!!
I went to the Shimoda floating aquarium with my family today after a long time.
It was a second day of Black Ship
Festival in Shimoda.
The official parade took place from 11:30 AM in the town and a lot of people came to see it.
They also had a lot of shops and performances today.
As I had a lot of customers yesterday and today I was not able to go, but my wife took pictures instead of me.
The mayor and the visitors from
New Port city come to the primary school in Shirahama every year since
13 years ago, and the school children have a welcome ceremony and an
exchange meeting with them.
I participated in this meeting as an interpreter today.
The school children showed them some good performances, but the chidren were really welcoming the visitors from their heart when they were singing and dancing.
After that they had an exchange meeting at each class.
I think it was a very good and excited experience for the children.
As it became sunny and was a
little warmer than morning.
My son and I went cycling to Minami Izu town which is located on the south side of Shimoda city this afternoon.
We parked our car at the parking lot on the river side and went to the beach by bicycle.
My son was very excited and we had a good time today.
Click here to see the pictures which I took today.
We had very strong west wind but
it was sunny and very warm in Shirahama today.
It was the last day of Golden week, so there were not many people on the beach.
But the sea water was really clear. I wanted to dive and snorkel!
I went to Shimoda to ride a bike with my son after I finished cleaning guest rooms this late afternoon.
They live in Tokyo and have come to Shimoda for several times.
But it was a first time to stay at Pension Sakuraya and they stayed for 5 nights.
Thank you very much for staying with us.
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