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

2013/04/23 Carp streamer and Parasols

It's sunny but there are a lot of clouds in the sky here in Shirahama this morning.

I set up parasols above the tables for the 1st time this year today.

2013/04/22 A present from Switzerland

Our customers, a family from Switzerland gave us chocolates as a present.

They will stay for 8 nights from today.

My children love chocolate very much. Of course, me, too.

Thank you very much for your wonderful present.

2013/04/20 Wind Surfing in Shirahama

We had strong north east wind in Shirahama today.

When we have such a situation some wind surfer come to this beach.

It was very cold by this north east wind today.

When I was taking photos this wind made my hands freezing.

Where did the warm spring go?

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

2013/04/18 Shirahama Beach this morning

It's sunny and very hot here in Shimoda this morning.

I took this picture when I walked.

As the air is clear we can see the mountains coverd with fresh green leaves clearly.

If the air temperature would be getting higher we would be able to swim in Shirahama during Golden week.

Click here to see the other photos.

2013/04/17 タンポポ

In last about 10 days I have been looking forward the dandelion by the sea everyday, because I wanted to take pictures of dandelion backed by the sea.

But I couldn't find it out.

I took this picture this morning.

2013/04/16 Palm trees in Shimoda

When I walked on the road near Sotoura beach I took this picture this morning.

Between Shimoda and Shirahama there are some palm trees on the road.

I remember my home town "Miyazaki" everytime when I see them, because there are a lot of palm trees in the town and on the seaside roads in Miyazaki city.

2013/04/15 Shirahama Beach today

It was sunny and much warmer than yesterday in Shirahama today.

When I walked in Shirahama I took this picture behind Shirahama shrine.

There are a lot of interesting points to explore and see in Shimoda.

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.

2013/04/12 Shirahama Beach today

When I walked around Shirahama I took these photos.

We had strong west wind today again, but had beautiful blue sea as well.

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

2013/04/11 I love Shirahama Beach!!

I took this picture on the way to the nearest beach "Shirahama" from our Pension today.

We had strong west wind in Shirahama today, but it made the air in Shirahama very clear.

So we got a gorgeous scenery today.

It was amaging and we were in almost summer.

 

I love such a beautiful color and we are very lucky to live in Shirahama, Shimoda.

2013/04/09 Shirahama Beach this morning

I walked along the seaside after I served breakfast for my children this morning, and I took some pictures.

We had very big waves in last 2 days, but it was really changed after that and we have no big waves today.

The sea of spring has come back agai!

We still have a little strong west wind, but it will be very warm here in Shimoda today.

Click here to see the other photos which I took this morning.

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.

2013/04/03 Thank you for staying.

They came from Taiwan and stayed for 1 night at Sakuraya.

They have come to Japan for many times, but it was a first time for them to come to Shimoda.

We are very sorry, but it had been rainy during their stay.

One of them, he speaks Japanese very well, so we could have a good comunication in Japanese.

Thank you very much for staying with us.

 

I took this picture on the beach behind Shirahama shrine this morning.

They had big waves today, but it was a good condition for surfing.

 

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.

2013/03/29 The first snorkeling in Shirahama

Today I went to the beach to snorkel for the 1st time this year.

The water was still a little cold, but there was no prpblem for me. Because I put on a wetsuit when I got into the water.

I couldn't find out the tropical fishes, but there were some Japanese cormorants on the rock and small fishes in the water.

Click here to see the pictures which I took today.

2013/03/28 Spring messenger "Dandelion"

It was sunny and very hot in Shimoda today.

When I walked along the sea I found out a lot of yellow flowers.

They are dandelion flowers which tell spring has come.

Click here to see the other pictures which I took this afternoon.

2013/03/26 Sakura trees are fully blooming in Shimoda.

I went to the Sakura Park on the river side in Shimoda.

There are a lot of Sakura trees along the river, and they are fully blooming now.

Ths week is the best timing to see Sakura blossom in Shimoda.

Click here to see the pictures which I took today.

 

2013/03/26 Sea water current 'Kuroshio'

The warm water of sea current 'Oyashio' is getting closer to Japan in these days.

That's why the water temperature is very warm and is warmer the air temperature.

2013/03/23 Sakura blossom in Shimoda

I took this picture at Rendaiji in Shimoda this morning.

A lot of Sakura trees in Shimoda are blooming now.

It is good timing to see them this weekend.

2013/03/14 Green leaves of Kawazu Sakura

We have very cold rain here in Shimoda this morning.

The TV news said that they had first blooming of Sakura in Fukuoka in Kyushu island, a southern part of Japan yesterday.

There are a lot of kinds of Sakura in Japan, and the most famous and popular 'Someiyoshino' will start blooming from now.

I took this picture in our garden this morning.

This kind of Sakura called 'Kawazu Sakura' is now going to finish blooming, and this tree has already had fresh green leaves.

2013/03/13 New Old Type Car made in Japan!

Our customer who is from Germany and lives in Tokyo came to Shirahama by this car and stayed for 2 nights.

This car was made by Nissan 20 years ago in Japan and it is called 'Figaro', but it looks very new.

She went to Kawazu town and Minami Izu town to see cherry blossoms by this car.

I drove this car for the first time this morning, but it was exciting!

It looks like a car in an old film.

Click here to see the other photos.

2013/03/13 Swimming this morning in Shirahama

I took these pictures when I took my daughter to the school this morning.

There were some young people swimming in the water!

In these days the water temperature and the air one are almost same, 14 or 15 degrees this morning.

So it isn't cold for young people to get into the water, I guess.

2013/03/12 Blue and Pink in Shirahama

It was very very warm here in Shimoda today, and we could see Amagi mountains and Izu Seven Islands clearly.

When I walked on the top of mountain behind Pension Sakuraya I found out a lot of small flowers called Greater Henbit ( or Lamium amplexicaule?).

This flower is one of messengers of Spring!!

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

2013/03/12 Sunrise in Shirahama, Shimoda

I took this picture when I took my daughter to the school by car this morning.

We had very strong and cold wind yesterday, but there is no wind and it became very warm today.

2013/03/09 Spring color of the sea

I took this picture when I walked on the seaside.

There were some people walking with bare feet on the beach this afternoon.

2013/03/07 A first birdsong of bush warbler

It was very warm again today here in Shimoda.

My wife and I heard the birdsong of bush warbler for the 1st time this season in Shirahama.

It is about a week later than usual, I think.

By the way I took this picture on Shirahama Beach this afternoon.

There is a small hole on the cliff and we can see the sea through this hole.

2013/03/06 Narcissus and Blue sea

I took this picture when I was walking on the seaside this afternoon.

There are a lot of narcissus flowers in Shimoda, but almost of every flower are still blooming.

I don't know why, but we can not see its blooming in March.

2013/02/26 The view of Mt. Fuji from Izu peninsula

I took this picture on the west side of Izu peninsula this morning.

I wanted to take it clearer, but the air was not to clear.

 

2013/02/24 Blue, blue and blue sea in Shirahama, Shimoda

Today it was windy here in Shimoda.

The strong west wind sometimes makes the sea blue and gorgeous like this.

And a lot of cargo ships come to this beach to protect themselves from the strong west wind.