Located at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, the Shimoda/Minami-Izu area is a mecca for marine recreation. The Shirahama and Hirizohama beaches attract many tourists in the summer in search of crystal clear waters.
The Shimoda area is located on the southern side of the Izu Peninsula and is an area of great historical importance, known for the arrival of the Black Fleet ships led by Commodore Perry of the United States.
Shimoda's tidal waters offer excellent transparency and a variety of ocean-related activities such as diving, sea kayaking, the recently popular stand-up paddle (SUP), and fishing.
The main attractions in Shimoda include the Shimoda Underwater Aquarium and Perry Road. The Shimoda Undersea Aquarium is a marine aquarium that utilizes a natural cove, and is popular as an interactive aquarium with dolphins as the main attraction.
At the aquarium, visitors can put on a wetsuit, enter the cove, swim with the dolphins, and touch them. The floating ship-shaped aquarium has a huge circular tank that reproduces the Izu Sea, where visitors can view sharks, fish, and other fish, as well as invertebrates such as sea anemones.
The Perry Road, along which Commodore Perry marched when he arrived by black ships to conclude the Treaty of Shimoda, is a place where visitors can enjoy a townscape that still retains the atmosphere of the olden days.
Every year around June, hydrangea flowers bloom along the stone-paved promenade across the Hiraname River, delighting the eyes of visitors, and the cafes and other gourmet elements make it a popular spot for tourists.
Minami Izu is located at the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula and is home to Ishirozaki, the southernmost cape of the Izu Peninsula and a popular tourist spot.
The area is also famous for swimming, and is crowded with bathers every summer at Yumigahama Beach, with its impressive 1-km-long white sand beach, Tsumara Beach, where ocean athletics are popular, and Koura Beach, with its cove and shallow sandy beach.
One of the main attractions in Minami-Izu is Hirizohama. Hirizohama is located on the coast between Ishigorozaki and Nakaki, and can only be reached by boat. The reason for its popularity is the outstanding transparency of the sea and the natural environment, which is so rich that tropical saltwater fish such as bears and hornbills, as well as corals, can be seen.
The area is therefore crowded with bathers and snorkeling tourists every summer.
Accessible only by ferry, this beach is popular for its extremely clear and transparent waters, and is crowded with bathers who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and diving during the summer months. It is designated as a national park, and snorkelers can observe colorful fish swimming in the emerald green sea. Underwater, you will be greeted by eda coral, anemones, and an abundance of several species ...»
This is an extraordinary resort spot, with pure white sandy beaches that reflect the emerald green sea, and luxurious accommodations scattered throughout the area. This coast is divided into north and south by Shirahama Shrine, with the north side called Central Beach and the south side called Shirahama Ohama. The central beach on the north side has not only sandy beaches but also rocky beaches ...»
Boardwalks, sundecks, and palm leaf umbrellas along the sandy beach create a pleasant tropical atmosphere. It is one of the best beaches in Shizuoka Prefecture, selected as one of the 88 best beaches in Japan and one of the 100 best beaches in Japan by the Ministry of the Environment, for its excellent water quality and comfort. The central part of the beach is surrounded by stone breakwaters an...»
It is said to be the most beautiful beach on the Izu Peninsula, with its white sandy beach and clear emerald green ocean creating a stunning landscape of exquisite colors. The spacious white sand beach stretches 800 meters from north to south, and is the largest beach on the Izu Peninsula. It is popular among young people for marine sports such as surfing and windsurfing. Surfing is prohibited i...»
This beach has a coastline that has been intricately changed by the wind and waves. The sandy beach stretches 50 meters wide and 410 meters long, and the crystal clear seawater shines beautifully. It is ideal for families. Nearby are Ryugu Park with its mysterious scenery and the Sand Ski Resort, where summer skiing can be enjoyed on sand slopes with a slope angle of 30 degrees, a length of 70 me...»
This mysterious space with a gaping hole in the ceiling is also known as a power spot. Inside the cave is a small sea, and when you look up at the ceiling, you can see the sky. You will feel a strange sensation, especially when you lie down. Visitors can walk around the ceiling of the cave on a promenade and see the heart-shaped topography from above. Ryugugutsu Cave is a sea-eroded cave, and i...»
The ocean and swimming pools are the most popular summertime pastimes, but if you are looking for something a little more active, the Taju Sand Ski Resort is the place for you. These sand dunes, formed by seasonal winds on the precipitous cliffs, are natural sand slopes with an angle of about 30 degrees, 45 meters in length, and 100 meters in width. Visitors can ski on sleds or boards and experi...»
Located at the southernmost tip of the Izu Peninsula, this cape is a popular tourist destination for its rugged coastal scenery, with sheer cliffs 100 meters high. At the tip of the cape stands Ishirorozaki Lighthouse, built by the Englishman Blanton in 1871, and beyond it is Ishimuro Shrine, the guardian deity of sailors. At the end of the promontory is the Kumano Shrine, the guardian deity of ...»