A special view of the sea in Japan that appears only in summer.

In Higashi-Izu, Kawana, there is a special diving spot that can only be accessed during the summer.

Its name is "Ubako Coral."

Just three minutes from the port.

The time spent heading out to sea on a small boat is also part of the joy of the journey.

Once you enter the water,
schools of fish greet you.

Fish swimming around the reef transform the ocean view in every direction.

Vibrant soft corals spread out, allowing you to not only watch the fish but also to slowly enjoy Japan's rich sea.

Ubako Coral is available only until the end of August each year.

It is a special view of the sea in Japan that you can encounter only in summer.

There are still lesser-known seas in Japan.
Why not encounter such views on your next trip?

When visiting Atami, if you can only choose one dessert to try, most people would likely recommend "Atami Pudding."

As you stroll along the Atami shopping street, you can see the charming shop inspired by vintage milk bottles from afar, with a neat display of various pudding flavors in the window. From classic plain to matcha, strawberry, and limited edition fruity flavors, it's hard to resist stopping to choose.

This time, I chose the classic plain pudding.

After opening the lid, I first drizzled the accompanying caramel sauce, and the rich aroma of eggs immediately filled the air.

The texture is creamy and smooth upon entry, with a simple flavor reminiscent of nostalgic Showa-era tastes; the caramel sauce adds just the right amount of slight bitterness and sweetness, enriching the overall experience. It seems simple, yet one can feel the shop's dedication to the ingredients and craftsmanship.

Sitting outside the shop, enjoying the pudding while feeling the sea breeze and the leisurely vacation atmosphere of Atami is particularly pleasant.

The cute hippo logo and retro packaging are also perfect for taking memorable photos, which is no wonder it has become one of Atami's most representative souvenirs.

If you have the chance to visit Atami, take a moment to slow down, savor a bottle of Atami Pudding, and experience the unique sweet charm of this hot spring town.

This is the row of houses in Utsunoya, located in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The houses are made of wooden planks and feature distinctive signs.

It is a very tranquil place that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Be sure to stop by when you visit Shizuoka Prefecture.

[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

【June 18📍Shimoda Park】
We have updated the hydrangea blooming status💠✨
Now is the perfect time!
Be sure to enjoy the breathtaking full blooms🌈
This weekend (June 20-21), in addition to the event at Shimoda Park,
events will be held throughout the city!

You can find information about the park's conditions and events on our blog👇
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260618

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/

Ana Kobo, Toki City, Gifu Prefecture
Hydrangeas were blooming to the right of the shrine!
On the YouTube channel "sabasushi youtube," we post everyday videos about the growth of cherry tomatoes, zucchinis, and more.

【June 15📍Shimoda Park】
We have updated the hydrangea blooming status💠
Currently, the hydrangeas in the park are in full bloom!
Today (6/15), the weather improved in the afternoon, making the hydrangeas even more beautiful🌿✨
Hydrangeas look great in natural light😌

You can find the latest blooming status and scenes from the park on our blog👇
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260615

Roadside Station "Obaachan-Ichi Yamaoka"
is located in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, featuring a large waterwheel in a nature-rich setting.
Regular events are held here, making it a popular gathering place for families and riders.
Nearby is Iwamura Castle, known for its female lord Otsuya, who was the aunt of Oda Nobunaga. There are tales of her desperately protecting her people until the castle fell, and the castle town still exists.

[June 9]
We have updated the hydrangea blooming status💠✨
Currently, they are 50% in bloom, but they will soon reach their peak!

We are featuring the current state of the garden and the latest blooming status on our blog🫧
Please take a look for your outing reference.
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260609

🚢 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 😌⚓

Speaking of Atami, besides the hot springs, there's now another must-visit reason—buying the "Youichian's Atami Butter An."

This shop's signature item is a round, fluffy cream-filled red bean bread, with a thin, airy crust. Inside, it contains homemade red bean paste, complemented by a layer of creamy frosting.

The bread is light and elastic, and the most surprising part is the cream—it doesn't have that overly sweet taste, instead offering a hint of saltiness that adds depth to the overall flavor.

When it comes to red bean paste, Japanese sweets can sometimes be overly sweet, but here, the sweetness is well-balanced, and you can actually taste the texture of the beans. Even someone like me, who usually doesn't have a particular fondness for red bean paste, found this bread irresistible.

At the checkout, I initially thought one or two would be enough, but after the first bite, my only reaction was: why didn't I buy more?

Next time I visit Atami, the first thing I'll probably do is rush here to stock up.

We have updated the hydrangea blooming status💠✨
Thanks to the good weather, the opening ceremony successfully concluded in the morning😌🌿
Despite being the first day, many guests have visited the garden!

We are introducing the current blooming status and the venue atmosphere on our blog📸💠
Please take a look👇

https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260601

This tea plantation, located at an altitude of 300 meters, is referred to as the "Tea Fields in the Sky" or "Machu Picchu of Gifu."
After a 10-minute walk up the trail, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the tea fields from the observation deck. The photo was taken from the observation deck.

Kasuga Rikugō Kamigana, Ibigawacho, Ibi District, Gifu Prefecture.

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

The non-flying airplane and local train

The Sangi Railway Hokusei Line, one of the few narrow-gauge railways in Japan today. Along the line, seasonal flowers bloom, making it a popular railway, but the point about the non-flying airplane is a place known only to a few.

Inabe City, Mie Prefecture April 2026

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?

Is there really such a different world in Nagoya?
Yokisō, located in Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, is a villa garden built by Jirozaemon Itō, the first president of Matsuzakaya, during the Taisho to Showa periods. Surprisingly little known even among locals, it is a hidden gem favored by connoisseurs.
The vermilion bridge spanning the pond, the charming wooden corridor, and the autumn scenery with vibrant maple leaves reflecting on the water create a beauty reminiscent of Kyoto's famous gardens. The tranquil space enveloped in shades of green, yellow, and red allows you to forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
Admission is free, making it easy to visit, and it remains uncrowded even during the autumn foliage season. Be sure to enjoy this hidden Japanese garden, the best in Nagoya.
2-5-17 Hōō-chō, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan.

Is this Nagoya? It’s a corridor from another world that makes you do a double take.
The Nagoya City Archives, located in Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, is an important cultural property built in 1922 in the Neo-Baroque style. Compared to Nagoya Castle and Sakae, it has fewer tourists, making it a hidden architectural gem where you can take your time exploring.
Upon entering the building, you are greeted by an elegant marble staircase, stained glass, and arched windows that create a majestic space, making you feel as if you've wandered into a European palace. Its overwhelming beauty has made it a popular filming location for dramas and movies.
The fact that admission is free and you can easily drop by is another delightful point. You can discover a new side of Nagoya.
3-1 Shirakabe 1-chome, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan.

This sky is unique to this place.
Located in the northern part of Mie Prefecture, Inabe City is a nature-rich agricultural town overlooking the Suzuka Mountains. From late September to early October each year, the vast fields are blanketed with white buckwheat flowers in full bloom.
During sunset, the dramatic sky is dyed in shades of crimson, creating a fantastical scene where the silhouette of flower fields stretches to the horizon against the backdrop of the mountains, resembling a painting. It is precisely because of the unspoiled rural landscape that one can experience this overwhelming sense of scale and tranquility.
With easy access, just about an hour's drive from Nagoya, be sure to visit with your camera in hand to seek out this hidden gem of a view.
Inabe City, Mie Prefecture, Inabe Town.

A sunflower field in the city center, encountered right in front of the station.
Located just next to Nagoya Station, the Dai Nagoya Building hosts a stunning sunflower field every summer, a hidden gem known to those in the know amidst the towering skyscrapers of the downtown area.
The golden rows of sunflowers create a unique contrast with the modern glass buildings, offering a one-of-a-kind view that is distinctly Nagoya. Even passersby can't help but stop in their tracks, amazed that such a floral spectacle can be enjoyed right in front of the station without needing to travel far.
During the event period, admission is free, making it an attractive stop to visit while shopping or having lunch. This is a delightful spot to quietly add to your summer sightseeing in Nagoya.
3-28-12 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.

On a summer night, lanterns sway in the fiery sky. Tokugawa Garden, located in Higashi-ku, Nagoya City, is an authentic Japanese garden associated with the Owari Tokugawa family. Unlike Nagoya Castle, which attracts many tourists, this hidden gem allows you to leisurely enjoy the seasonal scenery. The Floating Lanterns event, held every year during the Obon period, is especially a must-see. Against the backdrop of a blazing sunset gradient, the sight of numerous white lanterns floating on the tranquil surface of the pond is breathtakingly beautiful. The weeping willows and green pines are fantastically illuminated, creating an extraordinary atmosphere that feels far removed from the city. Be sure to visit for a special summer memory.

In the purple tunnel, you forget the time.
Tennogawa Park in Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture, is cherished locally as a famous spot for wisteria, yet it remains a hidden gem with modest national recognition. From late April to early May each year, the massive wisteria trellises that cover the area are nothing short of breathtaking.
Clusters of pink, purple, and white flowers hang down like waterfalls, creating a fantastical space that feels like stepping into another world. The nighttime illumination reveals a different, ethereal, and glamorous expression compared to the daytime.
The free admission is also a delightful point, and it's conveniently accessible, taking about 40 minutes by train from Nagoya.
1 Miyagawa-cho, Tsushima City, Aichi Prefecture.

Discover a hidden gem in Nagoya.
Quietly standing in the heart of Nagoya is Ueno Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning. While well-known among locals, it remains an off-the-beaten-path spot for tourists.
The impressive bronze statue of the reclining cow in the shrine grounds is a stunning sight. In front of it, colorful omikuji dolls in red, yellow, and green are neatly arranged, exuding a cuteness that makes you want to take a photo.
The contrast between the vermilion shrine and the clear blue sky is beautiful, and aside from the exam season, you can visit peacefully with fewer people around. If you're tired of the usual tourist spots in Nagoya, make sure to stop by.
3-40-2 Uchiyama 3-chome, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Scenery I want to preserve in Japan.
Yotsuya Senmaida, selected as one of the top 100 rice terraces.
The moist air after the rain created an emotional atmosphere and
was very pleasant.

May 2026, Yotsuya Senmaida, Shinshiro City

\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! ⚓✨