A Letter from Blue Sky and Sea - Izu Shimoda Photo Diary

2013/04/30 Thank you for staying!

They came from Switzerland and stayed for 8 nights.

During their stay they went to the nearest beach "Shirahama", Shimoda aquarium, Shimoda city and many places.

And their Japanese friends came to Izu and drove with this family to Shuzenji town, Western part of Izu peninsula for 2 days.

In the 1st night their children asked my son to play card game.

 

My son was very nervous befor playing because it was the first time to play with the foreign children, but my son became very happy and could have a lot of great experiences with them.

When they checked out they gave us a present from Switzerland, which was a red moneybox looked like a cow bell. Thank you very much for staying with us. We had a lot of great time with you!!

Clich here to see the other photos.

2013/04/27 Shirahama Beach today

The Golden week, a long holiday in Japan started today.

We had a little strong west wind, but it was warmer than yesterday and we could see the gorgeous colour of sea in Shirahama today.

There were some more people than usual, and a lot of cars which came from the other prefectures were on the Route 135.

Click here to see the other photos which I took today.

2013/04/13 Carp Streamer "Koinobori"

My son and I set up Carp Streamers for children's day which takes place on May 5th this afternoon.

The children's day is a Japanese tradition to celebrate Japanese boys and we pray that they will grow up healthy and strong.

Click here to see the other photos.

2013/04/07 Big waves in Shirahama & Cycling in Shimoda

Last night we had heavy rain and strong wind here in Shimoda.

But it became sunny and the blue sky came back today.

They had big waves this afternoon.

Click here to see the pictures on the beach today.

 

 

 

After I took pictures on the beach, my son and I went to Shimoda for cycling.

I parked my car at Shimoda harbor and started cycling to Rendaiji town.

We had strong wind, but my son was very excited today.

Click here to see the pictures.

2013/04/04 Cycling in Shimoda

It was a last day of Spring holiday of school. So I went to Shimoda for cycling with my son this afternoon.

We parked our car at Shimoda harbor park and went to Shimoda aquarium.

After that we went through the Shimoda town and took a free foot spa, and we played at the pinwheel festival.

He was very excited today.

Clich here to see the other photos which I took today.

2013/03/30 Cycling on the river side in Minami Izu town

I went to Minami Izu town with my son to ride bicycle.

Sakura trees on the riverside were fully blooming and we could see the rape blossoms as well.

We rode bicycle to the beach on the riverside and came back to the parking lot.

It was almost 2 hours, but he was very excited and had a fun today.

Click here to see the other pictures which I took today.

2013/01/03 Shirahama Shrine

We went to the nearest shrine called 'Shirahama Jinja' this afternoon for the 1st time this year.

Most of Japanese go to the shrine at the beginning of the new year to pray the health and the good luck for this year.

It was very cold there but there were a lot of people at the shrine.

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My second daughter works as 'Miko' , a shrine maiden for the 1st time of her life.

It had been very hard for her to work outside because of the cold wind, but it will be a good experience for her.

2012/12/01 Cleaning the floor

Today I'm cleaning the floor of the dining room.

I have already put all of tables and chairs out of this room and will wax later today.

My son was excited to play in this big room.

 

2012/10/29 Shirahama shirine festival

Today it was a second day of Shirahama shrine festival.

A lot of people come to this shrine and they watched the traditional dance performance.

And after that they had a ceremony to tell the opening of festival to the gods on the seven islands on the pacific ocean.

Actually it is held on the first day, but they changed the date because of rain yesterday.

Click the links below to see the pictures on our Facebook albums.

Shirahama shrine festival

Hitachisai Fire Ceremony

2012/10/28 Eve of Shirahama Shrine Festival

Shirahama shrine which has a long history of more than 2,400 years has the festival on October 28th, 29th and 30th.

Today it was an eve of this festival and the young boys and girls who are second year students in junior high attended the ceremony which was held in the main shrine.

My second daughter also joined them.

Click here to see the other pictures which I took in this shrine this evening.

 

2012/10/08 Togai-hama Beach for Snorkeling

My son and I went to Togai-hama Beach for snorkeling near Irozaki cape, the tip of Izu peninsula.

It takes about 40 minutes to get there from Sakuraya by car.

My son tried snorkeling there for the 1st time and he was excited at a lot of fishes.

Click here to see the photos which I took today.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/10/01 Snorkeling at Ebisujima island in Shimoda

My son and I went to Ebisujima island for snorkeling today.

He was excited with a lot of fishes in the water.

It was very good condition for snorkeling because the water is still warm.

We didn't need wetsuit actually.

Click here to see the other photos on our facebook album.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda

2012/08/29 Snorkeling at Ebisu-jima Island in Shimoda

As we didn't have many customers who had dinner tonight I went to Ebisujima island in Shimoda with my son.

This is a very good point for children and beginners because there is a big tide pool.

We could see a lot of fishes there!

Click here to see the photos which I took today.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/07/31 Snorkeling at Ebisujima Island in Shimoda

Today we had no dinner for our customers, so I decided to go to the sea with my son.

But in Shirahama beach they announced Swimming carefully due to the big waves by typhoon passing near Japan, so we went to Ebisujima island in Shimoda.

There were a lot of people around this island and they were swiimming, jumping into the sea, snorkeling.

Click here to see the today's album.

It takes about 15 minutes by car from Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/06/30 Ebisujima island: Good point for snorkeling in Shimoda

As it was sunny here in Shimoda today and we had some free time before check-in time I went to Ebisujima island for snorkeling.

It takes about 15 minutes by car and there is a bridge to get to this island.

This is one of good points for snorkeling in Shimoda, and there is a big tide pool like this.

This season it is a little early for snorkeling, but the water was very clear today and we could find out some fishes there.

After August the water temperature will be getting higher and it will be a good season for snorkeling in Izu peninsula.

Click here to see the other photos on our Facebook.

Pension Sakuraya: Kids friendly Pension in Shimoda, Japan

 

2012/05/26 Exploring on Shirahama Beach

I went to the Shirahama beach with my son this afternoon after school.

Today it was a little cold this morning, but it became very hot like summer here in Shimoda.

As we had low tide we could find out some sea animals at the tide pool.

In Shimoda there are 9 beaches, but Shirahama has both sandy beach and rocky one, so you can explore on this beach.

Click here to see the other photos which I took today.

Link: Walking Guide on Shirahama Beach

2012/06/25 Strong wind and sand on the beach

I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" with my son after school.

We could see the sand removing operation on the beach.

During winter and early spring we sometimes have strong north wind, and it blows the sand away.

So they have to prepare the beach removing the sand before summer.

Clich here to see the other photos which I took today.

Pension Sakuraya 4 minutes walk away to Shirahama Beach

2012/06/17 Hydrangea Festival in Shimoda

Last night we had a heavy rain in Shimoda, but it became sunny and hot today.

So I went to Shimoda park to see and take pictures with my son.

We walked in the fully blooming hydrangea, and there were a lot of people.

Click here to see 41 photos which I took Hydrangea Garden in Shimoda today.

Shirahama Ohama Beach: 4 minutes walk away Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/06/11 Snorkeling at Tsumekizaki Cape

On last Sunday, as it was beautiful day I went to Tsumekizaki cape in Shimoda for snorkeling with my son.

The water is getting warmer, so I could get into the water without wetsuit.

But the water was not clear and we could not find out many fishes, because the water condition was not good then and it was too earlier for snorkeling.

We will try to go there after August again.

Click here to see the other 20 photos.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/06/01 Ajisai- Hydrangea Festival in Shimoda!!

This festival is taking place in Shimoda Park between June 1st and 30th.

This is the largest scale in Japan, because there are more than 150,000 hydrangea trees in this park.

The best time to see is after the middle of June, they say.

Come and visit Shimoda this month!!

Click here to see the web page of Hydrangea Festival in Shimoda.

Kids friendly guest house in Shimoda, Japan Pension sakuraya

2012/05/31 Shimoda Harbor Tour Boat & Sawada Koen Rotemburo in Dogashima

In these days I had been making 2 web page, and I have just finished making them.

Before coming to Izu peninsula and Shimoda please chech them out below.

*Shimoda Harbor Tour Boat: Black Ship Sasquehannna

*Sawada Koen Rotemburo in Dogashima

Kids friendly guest house: Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda

2012/05/27 Let's go to the beach!! Shirahama Beach in Shimoda

I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" to swim with my son this afternoon.

It was sunny and very hot like summer here in Shimoda today.

After we arrived at the beach we jumped into the water soon.

The water is definitely getting warmer day by day.

I've been wondering this season the water temperature is higher than usual.

Click here to see the other photos which I took on the beach today.

Video taken on this beach today

Pension Sakuraya 4 minutes walk to Shirahama Beach in Shimoda, Japan

2012/05/06 Shirahama Beach Today - - Good waves for surfing!

During Golden Week I couldn't go anywhere with my children, beacu we had been very busy.

So I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" with my son this afternoon.

There were some surfers on the beach and they had good waves for surfing.

Click here to see the other photos which I took on the beach today.

Pension Sakuraya A family running accommodation in Shimoda, Japan

2012/04/ 29 The water is getting warmer and warmer in Shimoda!!

I went to the beach to take photos with my son this afternoon.

Threre were some people on the beach and some of them brought sun umbrella and tent.

The water was very warm today.

Click here to see the photos which I took today.

4 minutes walking to the beach Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/04/28 Koinobori (Carp Streamer) and Shirahama Beach today

This morning I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" to clean up with the other local people.

And after that I set up Koinobori ( Carp Streamer) with my son.

It was very hot here in Shimoda, Japan today.

Click here to see the album with 19 photos which I took today.

A family running accommodation: Pension Sakuraya

2012/04/08 Sakura Blossoms in Matsuzaki town

I went to Matsuzaki town to see Sakura blooming with my wife and son this afternoon.

There is a river called "Nakagawa" in Matsuzaki town, and there are more than 1,200 Sakura trees on the riverside of 6 kirometers.

In addition, there is a big field of flowers.

We could feel Spring has come there today.

Click here to see the photos which I took today.

And click here to see the video which was taken on the riverside driving.

Kids friendly guest house "Pension Sakuraya" in Shimoda, Japan

2012/04/06 My son goes to school on this road. - - Shirahama Beach

Today it was a first day of new school year.

My son finished classes at 11:00AM, so I went to pick him up.

On the way home I took this picture.

My children go to school on this road everyday looking over the blue sea like this.

They are very happy, and we have to appreciate that we can live here, a beautiful place in Shimoda.

Kids friendly accommodation: Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan

2012/04/05 Shirahama Beach in Shimoda today - - Video on YouTube

On last Monday we had strong wind and heavy rain here in Shioda, and it was still windy yesterday.

Today, as it became sunny and we didn't have strong wind I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" with my son.

It takes about 4 minutes by walking from Pension Sakuraya.

I posted the video which I took today on Youtube.

Click here to see it.

Pension Sakuraya in Shirahama, Shimoda, Japan

2012/04/02 Shirahama Beach Today

 

I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" this afternoon.

It was very warm here in Shimoda today, but the water was still cold.

My son was excited with the clear water!!

Kids friendly guesthouse "Pension Sakuraya" in Shimoda, Japan

2012/01/18 Shirahama Beach this morning

Last weekend we closed our Pension and had a new year holiday at my wife's home in Chigasaki city.

Chigasaki and neighbor city, Fuiisawa, are bigger than Shimoda city, and there are some big shopping mall.

My wife and my daughters were excited with shopping there, but my son and I went to the movie theater to watch the movie "Kamen Rider", a Japanese TV hero.

We stayed for 3 nigths in Chigasaki and could have a very good time and were relaxed at my wife's faimly home.

By the way I took this picture on Shirahama beach this morning.

It is sunny here in Shimoda, but still cold.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda, Japan