[June 22 📍Shimoda Park]
We have updated the hydrangea blooming status 💠✨

The hydrangeas at Shimoda Park have reached their peak season✨!
Hydrangeas are blooming everywhere you look 👀

The hydrangea festival is ongoing until June 30th 💠
Please enjoy this breathtaking view while you can 😌
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260622

This summer, head to the not-too-hot Minami-Izu! 🌊☀️
Minami-Izu Town is currently observing "zero days of extreme heat"!
For more details, click here → https://x.gd/6kMLK
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🏖️ Yumigahama Beach
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A stunning beach with white sands and green pines, selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Beaches and Top 100 Swimming Areas!
This year, Yumigahama Splash Water Park is back! 🛟
Enjoy water activities and swimming together.
📅 From Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, August 23
*Yumigahama Splash Water Park will be open until August 23.

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🤿 Hirizo Beach (Nakagi)
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A hidden beach accessible only by boat! 🚤
Thanks to the Kuroshio Current, it boasts exceptional clarity, making it a snorkeling paradise with abundant fish! 🐠
📅 From Saturday, July 1 to Wednesday, September 30

🚢【Avoid Crowds】 Hirizo Beach Swimming Tour is now accepting applications!
Departure dates: July 18, 19, August 8-16, September 19-22
Adults: 6,500 yen / Children: 5,500 yen
Apply for the tour here: https://x.gd/ZH3a4

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🎆 49th Yumigahama Fireworks Festival
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The fireworks viewed from the sandy beach are breathtaking! ✨
📅 August 8 (Saturday) from 8 PM

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🏝️ List of Summer Swimming Spots
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1️⃣ Yumigahama Beach: July 18 - August 30
2️⃣ Koura Beach: July 27 - August 16
3️⃣ Tawara-hama Watashi & Mera: July 11 - August 31

Activities such as snorkeling, SUP, diving, and sea kayaking are also available! 🏄

Summer posters are also on sale!
B1 (Iro Shrine) 500 yen, B2 (Hammerhead Shark, two types of fireflies from Ihama) 300 yen
*Free distribution for Minami-Izu residents

📷 A photo contest is also underway!
Winners will receive luxurious prizes.
Apply here: https://x.gd/LRM7Q

For more information on tourism in Minami-Izu, visit → https://www.minami-izu.jp/

🚢 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Special Boat "Hashidate" Open to the Public 🚢

"Hashidate" is a rare vessel, the only one of its kind in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 👀✨
This will be the first entry of a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship into Shimoda Port in two years, aside from the Black Ship Festival.

📅 June 20th (Saturday) and 21st (Sunday)
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Last entry 30 minutes before each session)
📍 Shimoda Port, Sotogaoka Quay
💰 Free admission
📝 No reservation required

Please take this opportunity to come and see it 😌⚓

At the end of the gently winding path, a view that seems to connect with the sky unfolds at Mt. Oomuro. Each step taken while holding hands feels as if you are getting closer to the sky. It is a hidden gem of breathtaking scenery that is still not widely known, where your heart can truly unwind.

Hirasawa, Shizuoka Prefecture.
This is a quiet sea in Japan that can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo.

From late spring to early summer, a special scenery appears in this sea.

A forest of seaweed extending to the water's surface.
A gently swaying green world.
Soft light filtering through.

It feels as if a forest is spreading underwater.

As you quietly swim between the seaweeds, small blue fish appear.
In the shadows of the rocks, small lives grow in the spring sea.

These seaweed areas are called "moba" in Japan.
They are important places where many fish and marine creatures live.

From spring to early summer, it is also the spawning season for the bigfin reef squid.
The changing scenery of the sea with each season is one of the charms of Japan's waters.

The sea of Hirasawa is a bit different from the tropical seas of Okinawa.
It lacks flamboyance.

However, it possesses a quiet beauty.

Light filtering through the seaweed.
A time when only the sound of waves can be heard.
The slowly flowing underwater scenery.

You can feel the gentle air typical of Japan's nature.

At Hokule'a Shonan, we offer guidance centered around the sea of Kanagawa and Izu, which can be enjoyed as a day trip from the Tokyo area.

With a small group, even beginners can feel at ease.
English support is also available.

Experience the time of Japan's sea that cannot be encountered just by visiting tourist spots.

It is recommended for those looking for "an experience in Japan that is more than just diving."



Related Keywords:
Hirasawa Diving / Nishi-Izu Diving / Izu Diving / Diving Near Tokyo / Japan Diving / Dive Near Tokyo / Japan Diving / Hidden Japan / Japanese Ocean Experience / Tokyo Day Trip

Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Hirasawa, located along the coast of Nishi-Izu.

A few hours from Tokyo.
Here, time flows completely differently from the city.

In the morning, the road leads to the sea.
A blue sky.
The calm Suruga Bay.
The summer air.

This day was for OW, AOW, and Assistant Instructor courses.

Some are nervous about their first time in the sea.
Others are moving on to the next step.
Some are learning to support others.

Each enters the same sea with different purposes.

Underwater, it is quiet.

Swaying seaweed.
Light slowly filtering through.
A world where only the sound of bubbles can be heard.

The sea at Hirasawa has a beauty that is a bit different from flashiness.

Clear water.
Gentle currents.
Time spent slowly regulating one's breath.

Even for those diving for the first time, it's a place where you can gradually get used to the sea.

At Hokulea Shonan, tours and courses are conducted in small groups.

Enjoying the sea at your own pace, without rushing.

That is the style that is cherished in this place.

After diving.
Everyone stopped by Mentai Park.

Local food after seeing the sea.
Time to choose souvenirs.
Scenery along the coast while driving.

Such moments are also part of the journey in Japan.

Japan is not just about visiting famous tourist spots.

The road to the sea.
Local towns.
Small diving shops.
Scenery that can only be seen that day.

Nishi-Izu has such quiet charm.

For those wanting to spend a slightly special day near Tokyo.

Time spent in the sea of Japan will surely remain in your travel memories.

#Hirasawa #Izu Trip #Day Trip #Near Tokyo #PADI

The hydrangeas at Shimoda Park are starting to bloom (^○^)
While many flowers are still green, they are expected to change color all at once with the rain forecast at the end of the month ☔✨
From June 1st, we will hold the 55th Shimoda Onsen Ajisai Matsuri for a month!
The best viewing time is expected to be around mid-month.
Please come and visit Japan's largest hydrangea garden! ✨

Create special memories with your family near Tokyo 🤿☀️

This time, we visited Usami in Higashi-Izu.
It's a seaside area in Japan that you can access from Tokyo in a day.

In the morning, we departed the city,
heading towards Izu while enjoying the coastal scenery.

The landscape gradually changes.
Time flows slowly.

Just that alone allows you to feel a different side of Japan compared to Tokyo.

On this day,
we participated in a PADI Open Water Diver course as a family.

At first, they seemed a bit nervous, but
once they entered the water, smiles began to appear.

Seeing the same ocean,
watching the same fish,
and being moved by the same scenery.

Diving offers such special moments.

The waters of Higashi-Izu are a popular diving area for international guests as well.

The scenery changes with the seasons,
allowing you to enjoy schools of fish and
the serene blue underwater world.

"I can't believe there's such a sea near Tokyo."

It's not uncommon to hear such remarks from first-time international visitors.

Obtaining a diving license is
not just about getting a qualification.

It's about challenging yourself to enter a new world together.
It's about spending the same time in Japan's waters.

That experience itself will remain as a memory of the journey.

It's another side of Japan that you won't encounter just by visiting tourist spots.

That is the charm of "Dive Near Tokyo."

At Hokule'a Shonan,
we offer small-group beginner-friendly diving tours and license courses.

We can accommodate English speakers,
making it a great option for international travelers and foreigners living in Japan.

Why not spend a slightly special day during your trip to Tokyo?

\The highlight event of the Black Ship Festival is back this year!\
📍【Reenactment "Signing of the Japan-U.S. Shimoda Treaty"】

Set in the late Edo period in Shimoda, this performance comically reenacts the actual signing of the "Japan-U.S. Shimoda Treaty"!
The actors, embodying historical figures, deliver a captivating performance full of realism✨

There are moments that will make you chuckle…!😆
Even those not well-versed in history or children will enjoy it.
May 16 (Saturday) 12:40 PM – Ryōsen-ji
May 17 (Sunday) 12:30 PM – Shimoda Civic Cultural Hall Parking Lot

Experience the unique history of the Black Ship Festival at this event; be sure to check it out at the venue!👀⚓

The 87th Black Ship Festival "General Information Pamphlet" is now complete! 📖✨

This pamphlet is packed with information to enjoy the Black Ship Festival, including event schedules, venue guides, and parade route maps. 🙌

"Where is everything happening? 🤔"
"What time does the parade start? 👀"

This pamphlet will be a great help during those moments! ✨
If you want to fully enjoy this year's Black Ship Festival, be sure to check it out in advance!

It will also be distributed in print in the future. 📚
If you come across it, please take a look! ⚓✨

Information about ongoing events!

From Sunday, May 3, 2026, to Sunday, July 12, 2026
"Izutsu and Creators."
https://www.instagram.com/irozaki_oceanpark/
Location: Irozaki Ocean Park

Until May 10, 2026
Strawberry Picking
https://www.instagram.com/babyberry_farm/
Location: Baby Berryf Farm

From Sunday, May 3, 2026, to July 12, 2026
Summer is approaching! Tide Pool Observation Experience [Beginner Level]
https://www.eco-surf.com/reservation/
Location: Oogahama next to Yuigahama.

The staff of the tourism association has visited again!
"Seretis," located right in front of Iritahama Beach, is a popular spot where you can enjoy meals while feeling the ocean in a spacious location!✨

This time, we chose the Wagyu burger (1600 yen) and Shimoda Blue Pudding (600 yen).🍔🍮
The burger features the rare cut "Togarashi" from Shimanto Beer Beef, meticulously prepared over two days.
It's tender and juicy, bursting with the flavor of the meat.🤤
The "Shimoda Blue" used in the pudding comes from eggs of free-range chickens, known for their bluish shells.🥚
With a subtle sweetness, it offers a rich, adult flavor.😌🤎

Indulge in this luxurious gourmet experience while gazing at the sea—make sure to check it out!☝️✨

The Iwata City Tourism Association is hosting a collaborative project with Daytona Co., Ltd. called "Iwata Morning Activity Cafe" at the Communication Plaza. Enjoy morning coffee, use it as a meeting point for touring, and feel free to drop by anytime.

After the Morning Activity Cafe, we will hold a Morning Activity Market, where families can participate in workshops to experience crafting and purchase popular sweets. Food trucks will also be present, so enjoy a fun holiday at the Communication Plaza throughout the day. Iwata City's mascot, Shippei, will also come to visit!

Date: Saturday, May 9th, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, rain or shine.
(In case of bad weather, the event will be canceled. Notifications will be posted on this site in case of cancellation.)



*A portion of the sales from the food trucks and workshops will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross as "Relief Fund for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster of Reiwa 6."
*The Welcome Bikers Roadstation (WBR) project promotes a network of regions and facilities that welcome motorcyclists, calling for traffic safety and improved manners for visitors.
*The content of the stalls may change.

Cherry blossom viewing spots in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture 🌸
A breathtaking view that spreads 360 degrees.
・
・
✅ Shishigahana Park
◎ 62-2 Ohira, Iwata City
◎ Parking: Available

📷 Taken on April 2, 2026 🌸

Date and Time: Saturday, April 18, 2026
*Cancelled in case of rain (no backup date)

Venue: Mitsuke-juku Street

The "Enshu Daimyo Procession" will faithfully recreate the scene where the feudal lords participating in the Sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) stay at the 28th station of the Tokaido, Mitsuke-juku, welcomed by the inn staff, the main inn, and townspeople on Mitsuke Main Street.
The "Mai-guruma (Dance Cart) Pulling and Fire Dance" will reenact the story of the Mitsuke Gion Festival.
In addition, various performances will be showcased throughout Mitsuke Main Street as a stage.

Iwata City tourism ambassadors will also participate in the procession wearing kimonos!

*Traffic regulations will be in effect from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM on the day.

Photographed today, Wednesday, April 8: the wisteria at san remo park.
There are white and purple wisteria trellises; the white is in full bloom while the purple has just begun to open. The azaleas are also coloring up, so please take a look if you are nearby.
san remo park Address / Wadahaminamicho (next to Atami Port)

From a hill above the residential area, you can see many Kawazu cherry blossoms in full bloom, and from the high ground the Tokaido Shinkansen and Suruga Bay also offered beautiful views.

Ongoing events through Golden Week‼

① Ongoing until supplies last
Ihama margaret picking
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=91181&cat=18736&type=event

② Ongoing until around May 5
Strawberry picking
https://www.instagram.com/babyberry_farm/

③ March 28–April 5
Yuigahama cherry blossom tour
http://www.the-surface.com/event.html#sakura

④ April 1–May 5
Bamboo shoot picking and the takeno‑ko eatery opens
http://takenokomura.com/

⑤ April 3
Irozaki Gongen Festival
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=3725&cat=18736&type=event

⑥ April 18 and 19
Va'a Japan 4th Japan Cup in Minami‑Izu
https://www.vaajapan.com/2026-japan-nationals

⑦ April 29
Lead-horse riding experience day
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=7746&cat=18736&type=event

Spring in Minami‑Izu features both Somei-yoshino and mountain cherry blossoms, and it also offers abundant sea- and mountain-based nature experiences, so it’s surprisingly hot (exciting) just for that‼

Events across Minami-Izu Town!
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-eventlist&eventlist=18736

I visited Omusubi Kokoro, which opened this February (^○^)

While rice-ball shops that let you pick from a display case are nice, this place shapes your onigiri after you order 🍙✨

Located near Shimoda’s popular spot Perry Road, it’s a perfect stop to grab a snack after a stroll when you start to feel peckish 🎵

For me, ume (pickled plum) is a must for onigiri, but I couldn’t decide on the second filling….
In the end I narrowed it down to simmered alfonsino, dried fish from Ogiso Shoten, or okaka from Yamada Katsuo Bushi Shop. After much deliberation I chose the simmered alfonsino.

The hot, hefty onigiri are great for taking to your favorite spot this season or for enjoying while walking around!
Of course, you can also eat them inside the shop if you prefer (^^)

Please stop by when you’re exploring the town.

Photographed on March 4
The early winter cherry trees near Ginza Street, at the Sakimicho curve, are now in full bloom and catching the eyes of passersby.
Of the three trees, the one at the top is called the "Sakamachi Temple Cherry". It is said to be one of the trees planted in the grounds of Iou-ji Temple, which once stood here in the early Meiji period.
The tree is over a hundred years old. It survived the Honcho great fire of 1944 and the Atami great fire of 1950, making it a precious cherry tree.
Sakamachi Temple Cherry — Address: Sakimicho, Atami City (opposite Hotel Kan-ichi)

About 20 early winter cherry trees in Shinsui Park are also continuing to bloom, so please visit if you are in the neighborhood.
Shinsui Park — Address: Nagisacho, Atami City (Shinsui Park Daiichi Kouku to Shinsui Park Second Section)

The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival Finale

Town’s 70th Anniversary Commemoration “Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars”
Period: Friday, February 27, 2026; Saturday, February 28, 2026; Sunday, March 1, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PM
Release section: a 400 m stretch from Harumachi Bridge to around Kinomiya Bridge
※The event may be canceled due to rain or other conditions.
※The Inoriboshi® will be released a little upstream from the Roadside Station.
※This event is expected to be very crowded.

↓If you want to avoid crowds, please join the tour below.↓
・Tour organized by Minamiizu Town Tourism Association: Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars Tour (until 2/28)
Reserve/Apply here → https://x.gd/EGMCM

・Vendors will be located behind the Tourist Information Center and Yunohana Chokubaijo (Yunohana Farm Stand).
There will be special vendor stalls during the Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars event from 2/27 to 3/1.

※The posted images are from 2015.
※The Milky Way Project🄬 is a registered trademark, so unauthorized use is prohibited. Commercial use by entities other than individuals is also prohibited.

【The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival】
Held from February 1 to March 10

🌸About “The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival”
https://x.gd/8BXol

🌸Bloom status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/iyca6

🌸Parking status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/zbToA

🌸Live camera
https://x.gd/smGtI

Updated: Thursday, February 19, 2026

The 28th Minami Sakura and Nanohana Festival
Held February 1 – March 10

🌸 About the 28th Minami Sakura and Nanohana Festival
https://x.gd/8BXol

🌸 Bloom Status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/iyca6

🌸 Parking Status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/zbToA

🌸 Live Camera
https://x.gd/smGtI

〈If arriving by public transportation〉
Get off at Izukyu Shimoda Station and take the Tokai Bus bound for Shimogamo (Platform 3).
Get off at Kujo Bridge and walk about 2 minutes to the roadside station shimogamo onsen yunohana, where the general information center is located. (The cherry tree avenue is behind it.)
The nanohana fields are right by the Hino stop.
Tokai Bus tel: 0558-22-2514
Note: Minamiizu Town has no train service and parking is limited, so please use public transportation. Services run about once per hour.
Tokai Bus link
https://www.tokaibus.jp/
〈If arriving by car〉
Please head for roadside station shimogamo onsen yunohana.
There are dedicated parking lots nearby; please use them.
⚠ When visiting or photographing the nanohana fields and the nanohana along the cherry tree avenue, please do not step on the flowers!
⚠ Some people step on the nanohana growing on river slopes near roadside station shimogamo onsen yunohana, but there are lighting cables and other hazards, so please do not enter these areas for your safety.
Please use the festival’s designated parking lots. Do not park at shops or on private property.

Kasai Rinkai Park in Edogawaku, Tokyo Metropolis will host the annual Narcissus Festival on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8. (^○^)

The exchange began more than 20 years ago in 2005 when Shimoda City donated narcissus bulbs to Kasai Rinkai Park, and it continues to this day.
Since fiscal 2006, the Shimoda City Tourism Association has been happily taking part in special events during the Kasai Rinkai Park Narcissus Festival, selling Shimoda products such as kinme croquettes, kinmedai fish head soup, dried fish, Shimoda brand goods, and all-you-can-pack Izu mandarins to promote tourism.✨

Members of the Shimoda Taiko Traditional Preservation Society also join the event to perform traditional drumming with a history of about 400 years on stage.

If you are nearby, please stop by the Shimoda City Tourism Association booth at the Kasai Rinkai Park Narcissus Festival. (^○^)

*The booth photo was taken at last year’s event.*

On a clear, cold winter day, our family enjoyed flying kites in a park with a great view of Mount Fuji.

Photographed on January 20th: Atami cherry blossoms are in full bloom at several spots 🌸
(Kamanariya Heishichi Statue · Itokawa Promenade · Shinshui Park Third Section · Sanremo Park · Kaihin Park · Nagisa Koen Park)
Itogawa Cherry Blossom Festival runs until February 8th
https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/features/59

This is a photo of the Atami Cherry Blossoms along Itokawa Promenade illuminated on January 17th 🌸
https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/features/59

Minami-izu Town, located at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula, is dotted with a wealth of geosites that give a sense of the workings of the Earth, including a complex coastline and dynamic cliffs created by undersea volcanic activity.

Additionally, Mikomoto Island in Minamiizu Town is a world-famous diving spot where you can see schools of hammerhead sharks.
Due to the influence of the Kuroshio Current, the area is extremely dense with fish, and there is a high probability of encountering large schools of fish (hammer rivers) from summer to autumn, attracting many experienced divers from both Japan and abroad.
Located in the open ocean, you can enjoy drift diving (diving while being carried away by the current) and it boasts one of the world's highest concentrations of fish.

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For more information about tourism in Minamiizu Town,
Minamiizu Town Tourism Association【official】

WEB：https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-entry&spot=596705&cat=18711&pageno=3&type=spot