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

2011/03/23 Niwa-Zakura - - Blackout in Izu Peninsula

Today we had a blackout for the seconde time due to the electric power cut scheduled.

After the massive earthquake and nuclear accident TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company) has been putting power cut into operation to save the electric power.

It was started at 6:20 PM this evening, and I went to the road on the seaside after that.

There were some cars running on the road, but it was pitch dark without the power.

As I had the strong wind by the sea it sometimes rocked my car.

The black out was finished at 7:50 PM.

Today's picture is what I took in our garden. This is called Niwa-Zakura in Japanese, and it means Sakura in garden. But it is a different kind of tree from Sakura.

It has been still a little bit cold in these days, but spring is coming little by little here in Shimoda.

2011/03/19 Spring Day in Shirahama

We had a strong wind, but it was very warm here in Shimoda.

I went to the nearest beach to check it out, but there was few people on the beach and there is no cars from the other prefectures on the seaside road.

After earthquake was happened all of the accommodations in Izu peninsula had a huge damege due to a lot of cancellation, and some of them decided to close to run for a while.

The people who live in north-eatstern Japan are very hard to live now, but the people in the other places of Japan are falling into crisis.

 I wish these conditions in Japan would be better as soon as possible.

2011/03/18 Let's go to the beach!! - - Shirahama Beach in Shimoda

The sunshine and blue sea came back after a few days in Shimoda.

My son is now in Spring holiday and was getting tired this afternoon, so we went to the beach for walking.

It was very warm on the beach and we had good waves here in Shirahama, but there was no surfers in the water.

Click here to check the other photos!

 

2011/03/17 Driving with my son

Today it was very cold here in Shimoda.

My son got into the spring holiday from today, so I went to Shimoda for shopping, and after that drove around Shimoda with him.

I took this picture at Shimoda harbor at 4:30 PM.

You can see the pictures which I took today here.

2011/03/16 Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony in Shirahama, Shimoda

Graduation ceremony was taken place at Shirahama Kindergarten.

Yes, my son, Yuuki graduated today.

I remember the day he entered into ths kindergarten 2 years ago, but it was great ceremony today.

You can see the other photos here.

2011/03/12 After Earthquake & Tsunami warning in Shimoda, Japan

Yesterday massive earthquake hit North-Eastern Japan, and a lot of places and people were affected.

The coast in Shimoda was warned against Tsunami in the afternoon yesterday, and we had Tsunami only 80 centimeters in Shimoda harbor.

But Tsunami warning was cancelled today.

I went to Shimoda downtown for shopping and took some pictures on the way.

This is Shirahama Beach in Shimoda, and there was no damage there.

We had a lot of messages and e-mails from all over the world since yesterday, but we all are safe!

Thank you very much, everybody!!!

Look at the pictures which I took this afternoon on my Facebook.

2011/03/11 Earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan - - No problem here in Shimoda

Today a huge earthquake and Tsunami hit North-East part of Japan at 2:46 PM.

After that I went to the nearest beach "Shirahama" in Shimoda city, Izu peninsula, to check it out, but there was no problem here.

And all of my family are Safe!!

Here are the photos which I took on the Shirahama beach on Facebook.

In addition, you can watch TV news through the Internet.

 

 

2011/03/10 Blue Sea and White Sand - - Sotoura Beach

Today my wife and I went to Shimoda downtown for shopping, and came back home alone by walking.

On the way to Shirahama there is a beutiful beach called "Sotoura Kaigan".

This beach also has a white sand like Shirahama Beach, and it is almost cove.

So a lot of families come to this beach in summer.

I show you the other photos which I took today on my Facebook.

Check it out!!

2011/03/09 Light of God in Silence - - Shirahama Beach

This moring I went to the junior high school to take my daughter by my car, and after that went to the beach to take photos.

I took this on the beach behind Shirahama shrine.

Torii gate was shinning in the light of sun, and it looked like that it was telling us some messages.

You can see the other photos on my Facebook.

 

2011/03/06 My son Yuuki and I went to the beach "Shirahama Beach"

We had a little wind but it was very warm today here in Shirahama, Shimoda.

In this afternoon I went to the beach with my son.

As Kawazu Sakura Festa is taking place and today was Sunday, there were a lot of people on the beach.

I posted some photos on my Facebook.

You can see the phtos even if you don't have Facebook account.

2011/03/04 Snow in Shirahama, Shimoda

"It's snowing outside!!"

My wife said so this morning.

So I opened the window and found the white world there.

"I'm going to the beach to take pictures!" I said to my wife.

On the way to the beach there were a lot of snow we haven't had such a snow scince 3 years ago.

I show you the other photos on my facebook here.

2011/03/02 Izu Seven Islands in early morning

This morning I went to the junior high school to take my daughter by my car.

On the way back home I took this picture.

In last few days it had been cloudy and raing in Shimoda, so we could see the islands after 3 days.

It was a really fantastic scenary!!

2011/02/28 Rainy day with cold wind in Shirahama, Shimoda

Today it was the last day of February.

We had the strong wind and the heavy rain here in Shirahama.

I hope it will be warmer tomorrow for our customers who stays at Sakuraya.

I took this picture at the entrance of Sakuraya building this afternoon.

2011/02/27 Sea and Sky in this late afternoon in Shiraham

Today I went to Shimoda downtown by bike and took running around the city by bike.

When I came back to Shirahama I carried my bike in my car, and on the way back home my wife said,

"Look at that sky and cloud! It's so gorgeous!!"

It looked like some arts.

What do you imagine this cloud?

2011/02/26 Cycling to Ogasaki Wing, a good view point in Shirahama, Shimoda

Today it was warmer than yesterday.

After I prepared the room, bath and everything for our customers I went to Ogasaki Wing to take pictures for the webpage "Walking Guide in Shirahama" on our website.

The distance between Sakuraya and Ogasaki Wing is about 6 or 7 kirometers, and it takes about 1 hour by walking.

Before getting to Ogasaki Wing there is a steep staircases like this photo.

It was really hard to climb up this carrying the bike on my shoulder.

 

2011/02/25 Good waves in Shirahama, Shimoda!!

It was cloudy early this morning, but it became sunny and very warm here in Shirahama.

There were a lot of surfers in the water, and they had very good waves and a good wind "Off shore", it means it was nice condition for surfers!!

2011/02/23 Kawazu Sakura trees welcome you at Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda!

On the way to Pension Sakuraya from Route 135 on seaside we can find out Sakuraya's building.

I took this picture at the entrance of Sakuraya building.

In these days the Sakura trees which are fully blooming welcome us.

Almost of every customers are surprised and pleased with this......

2011/02/22 Sunrise in Shirahama

This morning, when I was preparing the breakfast for our customers I found out the right from the east sky.

There was a beautiful scenary with sunrise, and I took this through the window of our guest room.

Sunrise is always a good photographic subject, but it is better when we have cloud around sun.

The sky world is quite different!!

2011/02/21 A strong windy day like a storm?

It was almost cloudy all day today.

But we had a very strong wind here in Shirahama.

So the sea was stormy and they had big waves today.

In this season the weather is changing every 2 or 3 days, because we now in between winter and spring.

The weather forecast says it would be sunny tomorrow.

I think the foreign family who is staying at Sakuraya for 4 nights will be able to go to Kawazu town or Minami-Izu town to see Sakura blossoms.

Pension Sakuraya in Shimoda

2011/02/18 Thank you & Good bye Ceremony at Shirahama kindergarten

This morning we had a strong wind and a rain here in Shirahama at around 6:00 AM.

But it was changed, and it became sunny at around 9:00 AM.

Today my wife and I went to Shirahama kindergarten with my son, because they had a ceremony for children.

It is called Owakare-kai in Japanese.

It means a ceremony which the children say thank you and good bye to the children finishing kindergarten....

2011/02/17 Sakura trees are fully blooming at Sakuraya!!

Now it is 1:00 AM on February 18th.

We are having a heavy rain outside.

Today it had been almost cloudy here in Shirahama, but I took this photo.

Because the photos of blossoms would be better on cloudy day like today.

This is Kawazu Sakura, and it is already fully blooming.

I show you one another photo.....

2011/02/16 Cycling to Touji in Shimoda, and Kawazu Sakura in Minami Izu town

Today it was sunny and very warm in Shimoda.

Then I decided to go to Shimoda downtown by bike.

First of all I didn't decide where I go after that, but I dexided to go to south part of Izu peninsula.

After Shimoda downtown I went the Kisami Beach, and arrived at the Touji Beach.

 

 

2011/02/14 St. Valentine's day

Today my wife gave me and my son this chocolate cake.

Yes, it was St. Valentine's day today.

In Japan a lot of women have been giving a chocolate to men who they love for a long time.

But recently they, women give a chocolate to not only men in love but also men not in love.

It means the women give a present to the people around, for example, colleagues or friends though they don't love them.

In addition, especially in these days men give a present to women.

In Japan St. Valentine's day was made by confectionary companies long time ago and was developped as a different one from the other coutries.

2011/02/13 Snow on Amagi Mountains in Izu peninsula

It was rainy and very cold all day yesterday, but it became sunny today.

This morning my daughter had a sport competition at Shimoda junior high schoo, so I took her by my car.

When I went down the hill the moutains with white snow appeared over there.

I took this photo when I came back to Shirahama.

Amagi mountains are highest one in Izu peninsula, and they have snow once or twice every winter!!

However we don't have snow here in Shirahama....

2011/02/12 Shirahama Beach Walking Guide Part 2

Today Shirahama Beach Walking Guied Part 2 was completed.

In these web pages I was going to use the photos with people or my families, and I was looking for the good photos for each place.

I have a lot of photos which I have been taking in Shirahama since 10 years ago.

I selected some photos for this guide, but actually it seems like my lovely son's photogallary.

Check out Shirahama Beach Walking Guide from Part 1

You can click the links to go to Part 2 down this page.

 

2011/02/11 New kind of Sakura "Shirahama Ikona" at Shirahama shrine

Now it is 9:00 PM in Shimoda, Japan.

We have a cold and strong wind like typhoon outside. The weather forcast says it would be snowy tomorrow morning, but we can't expect it because Shimoda is very warm.

By the way, yesterday when I was walking in Shirahama I went to Shirahama shrine.

And then I found out a tree with a lot of pink blossoms like this photo.

Now in Kawazu town and Minami-Izu town Sakura festa is taking place, but the color of blossom is different from theirs.

I was wondering, but I went to my friend's house to ask about it.....

2011/02/09 Shirahama Beach Walking Guide is under construction!!

I have been thinking to make this for several years because we have a lot of foreign customeres from all over the world and most of them don't understand Japanese.

And I started to make it this week at last.

I was thinking it would take a long time for it, but actually I was right.

It took one day to make a map with photos, and it took looooong time more than 3 days to make this web page after that.

Anyway I have just finished the 1st page tonight.

Would you like to see it?

Please click here.

Fuuuu, I am getting tired......

2011/02/08 Walking on the beach in Shirahama

Yesterday I went to the nearest beach for walking.

It was very warm and comfortable for walking yesterday.

There were only 2 surfers in the water because they don't have good wave there.

I started to walk at the right side of Shirahama Ohama beach, and walked on the seaside to Shirahama shrine and Itado fishing port after that.

On the way there was a red gate "Torii" in Japanese on the big rock in the water.

I continued walking to the other side of Shirahama.....

2011/02/06 Kawazu Sakura Festival 2011 has started in Izu!

Yesterday we had an opening ceremony of Sakura (Cherry blossom) Festival here in Izu peninsula.

In Japan the most famous Sakura blooms in April, which is called "Someiyoshino".

But Kawazu Sakura is different from them and it blooms for about one month!

Yes, it is very famous for its long blooming and pink color.

This Kawazu Sakura festival is taken place from February 5th to March 10th in Kawazu town and Minami-Izu town every year.

2011/02/05 Hiking through the forest in Shirahama, Shimoda

In these days I sometimes walk around Shirahama.

Yesterday I had to go to Rendaiji for shopping, and I was going to take bicycle.

But I found out I had a flat tire, so I decided to go by  walking to Rendaiji town in Shimoda through the mountain.

Last week I went to the top of Mt. Takane and went down to Rendaiji, but I took a different route to Rendaiji yesterday.

Long time ago the local peple who lived in Shirahama didn't have a car or a bus to go to Shimoda, so they had to go to school by walking.

Especially the high school students had to take the route going through Mt. Takane.

Last week I took the different route to the top of mountain, but I walked the same route like this.

It was a little hard to walk, but the fresh air made me happy and healthy.

Here is a Mt. Takane route map with photos.