Minami-Izu Town Photo Contest 2026 is now accepting entries! "Visit again, Minami-Izu!!" We invite submissions capturing moments that made you feel like you want to visit again, such as memorable landscapes, experiences, and interactions. There are no restrictions on genres, whether it's nature, the sea, gourmet food, culture, or connecting with people. Please express the charm of Minami-Izu Town through your photographs. ◇ Application Period: Monday, June 1, 2026 – Sunday, January 31, 2027 ◇ Eligible Works: Works taken between Sunday, February 1, 2026 – Sunday, January 31, 2027 ◇ Prizes - Excellence Award - 1 winner… Prize money of 70,000 yen Additional prize: Accommodation voucher worth 10,000 yen for a member facility of the local tourism association - Minami-Izu Town Mayor's Award - 1 winner… Prize money of 30,000 yen Additional prize: Accommodation voucher worth 10,000 yen for a member facility of the local tourism association - Minami-Izu Town Chamber of Commerce President's Award - 1 winner… Prize money of 30,000 yen Additional prize: Accommodation voucher worth 10,000 yen for a member facility of the local tourism association - Minami-Izu Town Tourism Association President's Award - 1 winner… Prize money of 30,000 yen Additional prize: Accommodation voucher worth 10,000 yen for a member facility of the local tourism association - Honorable Mentions - 10 winners… Local specialty products worth 5,000 yen 【Notes】 ※ Works taken in other cities and towns (e.g., Ryugong Grotto, Cape Tsumeki's daffodils) are not eligible, so please understand in advance. ※ The number of prize winners may change depending on the judging criteria. ※ For more details on applications, please refer to the "Application Guidelines." ※ During the application period, please proceed from the "New Registration" button displayed (after the second time, it will be "Login"). ※ If your photos contain credits such as text or names, please remove them before submitting. Apply here → https://minamiizuphoto.mitte-x.istsw.jp/index.html?cn=226...

This is Tropical Beach located in Ginowan City. It was a very hot day, but the weather was nice, making it quite pleasant. Many tourists came to swim as well. It's easily accessible from the city center of Naha, so be sure to visit!

The beautiful seas and mountains of Amakusa await you at the cycling event "Amakusa Loop! Amaichi Gran Fondo 2026," which will take place over two days on December 12 (Saturday) and 13 (Sunday), 2026! This year marks the 70th anniversary of Unzen-Amakusa National Park's designation, and it is a special event celebrating the recognition of "Amaichi" as the first national cycle route in Kyushu. Come and enjoy the bounties of the sea and mountains at this cycling event! ■Event Overview ・Event Name: 70th Anniversary Event of Unzen-Amakusa National Park's Designation - Amakusa Loop! Amaichi Gran Fondo 2026 ・Date: December 12 (Saturday) and 13 (Sunday), 2026 ・Location: Amakusa City, Kamiamakusa City, and surrounding areas of Reihokumachi ■Schedule and Course Details 【DAY 1】 December 12 (Saturday) Amakusa Islands, Shimoshima Area Event 1: 140km (Capacity: 150 participants) / Entry Fee: 13,000 yen Event 2: 80km (Capacity: 200 participants) / Entry Fee: 10,000 yen Event 3: 40km (Capacity: 50 participants) / Entry Fee: 5,000 yen 【DAY 2】 December 13 (Sunday) Amakusa Islands, Kamijima Area Event 4: 140km (Capacity: 150 participants) / Entry Fee: 13,000 yen Event 5: 80km (Capacity: 200 participants) / Entry Fee: 10,000 yen Event 6: 40km (Capacity: 50 participants) / Entry Fee: 5,000 yen *A discount of 2,000 yen will be applied for consecutive entries over two days. *A discount of 2,000 yen will be applied for elementary and junior high school students. ■Participation Qualifications ・Participants must comply with event regulations and traffic safety rules. ・Participants must be in elementary school or older (one guardian per elementary school student must accompany them). ・Participants must be confident in completing the entire course within the time limit without getting lost. ・Participants must be able to adhere to the etiquette of using the national park. ・Participants must have a love for nature. ■Application and Details For more details and entry methods, please check the official event website. (Search for "Amaichi Gran Fondo!") We sincerely look forward to your participation!

As of August 23rd, the six beaches in Shimoda City have concluded their opening period for swimming. For a safe beach experience, it is recommended to visit the swimming areas that are open during the designated period, where lifeguards and monitors are present🏖️✨ In Shimoda City, Shirahama Chuo will remain open until Sunday, August 30th, while Shirahama Ohama and Kyūjūhama will be open until Monday, August 31st🌺! At the end of the blog, we have summarized the facility information for the beaches that have concluded their opening period! *This information is accurate as of August 24, 2026. Please note that the content may change in the future.* https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260824...

🌊🐚【Special Sea Play Experience!】🐚🌊 A special tidal flat in Shirahama Fishing Port, Shimoda City, which is usually off-limits, will be open for two days only on Saturday, August 29th and Saturday, September 12th!✨ Under the supervision of the fishing cooperative, you will search for and observe creatures in the tidal flat, then return them to the sea🌱🐠 We will hold an environmentally friendly "Sea Play GO" event! How about exploring places that are usually inaccessible in the clear waters of Shimoda?🔍🌊 It's perfect for creating summer memories☀️✨ 📌 Limited to 20 participants per session, reservation required 📱 Reservations can be made through the official website! For details and reservations, please check the official website below👇 https://umigo.co.jp/shirahama-fishing-port/...

Around 1 PM on August 8, 2026 The view from the terrace at Futtsu Kanaya "the fish" in the Inner Boso A midsummer blue sky, white summer clouds, and the shimmering sea Fishing boats moving through this scenery—how's the catch? It felt like a scene from a summer vacation sketchbook.

"No tools! No knowledge! Just come as you are! 🎣" "I want my kids to fish, but preparing and teaching them is tough..." Good news for all the parents out there! A hands-on fishing experience event taught by professionals is starting in Reihoku's sea! ✨ Thank you for always following the posts from the Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association! Today, we are excited to announce an experience event that will create the best memories of this autumn! 🌊✨ Local fishermen and anglers will kindly teach the kids, so even those who have never touched a fishing rod can aim for big catches with confidence! This experience includes a luxurious double feature! 👇 ①Catch fish from the shore using sabiki! (About 2 hours) We'll target seasonal horse mackerel and more! Be sure to capture the shining smiles of your kids when they catch something! 📸 ②Challenge yourself to fillet a sea bream! (About 2 hours) We'll move to the community center right in front of the port to fillet the sea bream! This experience is perfect for food education, as it teaches "gratitude for receiving life". 🐟 All you need to bring is "clothes that can get dirty and excitement"! However... to provide careful support, we can only accept 【3 groups (10 people max) per session】. 😭 Popular dates are likely to fill up quickly, so check the details and sign up now! 🗓 Event Overview 〇Date (Choose a convenient day): ・Saturday, September 12th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ・Monday, September 21st (Public Holiday), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ・Saturday, September 26th, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 〇Location: Nishikawauchi Fishing Port & Nishikawauchi Community Center (Sakase River, Reihokumachi, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 〇Capacity: 10 participants per session (up to 3 families) 〇Participation Fee (including rental fishing gear, sea bream for filleting, and insurance): ・Adults: 3,000 yen ・Children under junior high school: 1,500 yen (free for preschoolers) 〇What to bring: Clothes that can get dirty, a hat, a towel, drinks (cooler bag for take-home and ice packs) 🔗【How to Apply】 Applications are currently being accepted through the official website linked in the profile! *Registration will close once capacity is reached. If you're wondering, "Where should I go for the autumn holiday?", please sign up from the link in the profile before the spots fill up! 🔗

Half a year in the sea of Izu. A special day to retrieve wine aged on the seabed. Shobuzawa in Higashi-Izu, a short trip from Tokyo. The summer blue sky and calm sea. This day's diving had a slightly different purpose than usual. We are going to retrieve the wine sleeping on the seabed. 🚢 Six months ago, to the seabed of Izu. This January. We placed wine and sake in special cases and sank them to the seabed of Shobuzawa. The location is a sea popular among divers for its sunken ship. About six months later. In July, the day of retrieval finally arrived. How has the bottle spent half a year underwater changed? 🍾 To the sunken ship. Searching for wine sleeping on the seabed. The sea on this day is calm. We head out to sea by boat and start diving. The first goal is to retrieve the liquor that has been on the seabed for half a year. We check the case underwater and proceed with caution. Then, the case slowly rises to the surface. The case that emerged from the sea was covered with shells and marine life. What was once a new case has transformed into something that looks like a "part of the sea" over six months. Once safely retrieved onto the boat, it’s a reunion after half a year. 🌊 The next 21 bottles go back into the sea. Retrieving is not the end. On the second dive, we will transport the liquor to be aged next to the seabed. This time, we sank a total of 21 bottles, including wine and sake. From land to boat. And from the boat to the sea. We carefully transport the case containing the bottles to the seabed and set it up. The next time we meet will be in about six months. We plan to retrieve it around January 2027. 🍷 Wine, sake, and the sea of Izu. When thinking of a trip to Japan, many might picture the streets of Tokyo, temples in Kyoto, hot springs, and Japanese food. However, Japan is a country surrounded by the sea on all sides. If you look a little towards the sea, there is a completely different sense of time in Japan than that of city tourism. Diving in the sea of Izu to retrieve wine sleeping on the seabed. And sinking the next wine for six months later in that sea. Such a day is a unique experience in the sea of Japan. What kind of taste will the liquor retrieved from the seabed have? I will share more about it next time. 🇯🇵 A special day by the sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokule'a Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to enjoy the sea of Japan, focusing on Shonan and Izu, for day trips from Tokyo. The theme is, "Let’s embark on a journey to an unseen world!" Through diving, we hope you can enjoy the beauty of Japan's sea, its rich nature, and the time spent by the seaside. The tours are limited to small groups. Beginners and those who haven't dived in a while are also welcome to join. We also offer guidance in English. How about adding a day by the sea to your memories of your trip to Japan? We will suggest the best seas for that time based on your diving experience and travel schedule. Please feel free to contact us.

At 4:38 AM on August 9, 2026, in Chikura, Minamiboso City, the colors of the sky, gradually moving towards dawn, are beautiful during the thirty minutes before sunrise. It's my favorite time. Waking up early has its rewards!

Around 4:30 AM on August 9th This is a shot taken just before dawn in Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture. The spray from the waves enveloped the port town in thick fog. The ethereal atmosphere was wonderful.

I visited the stunning Italian restaurant 'amarancia' in Minamiawaji with a friend, overlooking the sea. The food was delicious, the staff were cool and friendly, and the restaurant had a wonderful atmosphere with breathtaking views! If you find yourself in Minamiawaji, be sure to stop by; I highly recommend it! The meal included a lunch course an assortment of appetizers marinated shrimp a choice of pasta fresh fish aquapazza a selection of grilled meats that we chose. According to my friend Hitomi, all the dishes were very generous in portion. I think it's rare for Italian restaurants in Japan to serve a course meal with appetizers to the main dish on large plates for sharing, which felt fresh and nice. The marinated shrimp was flattened, creamy yet rich in flavor, and it was my favorite dish!❣️ Since it was a special occasion, I chose the seafood oil pasta. The toppings were simple with tomatoes and mussels, but the various seafood flavors were delightful, making it a joy to eat!‼️ All three meat dishes had a wonderful charcoal-grilled aroma, each offering a unique meat flavor! By the time the main dish was served, I was nearly full, but it was so satisfying that I could have gone for some rice or bread!❣️❣️ (Hitomi's comment) Sharing delicious and hearty dishes with close friends while chatting, surrounded by a stylish interior and breathtaking views of Naruto Ohashi, with kind and cool staff. This space allows you to enjoy the joy of eating and the precious time spent with important friends through all your senses. You can have a great time at 'TRATTORIA amarancia.'

Day trip diving at a sunken ship from Tokyo. Another Japan sleeping in the sea of Atami. About 45 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Atami, known as a hot spring resort, has a special place under the sea. A large sunken ship lies at a depth of about 30 meters. On this day, we headed to the sea of Atami with guests from overseas and divers who were diving at a sunken ship for the first time. It takes just about three minutes by boat from the port to the diving point. Right near the city, there is a sea where you can enjoy authentic sunken ship diving. Entering the water, we slowly descend along the rope. Gradually, the shape of a large ship emerges in the blue sea. Surrounding the ship are numerous fish. A large school of damselfish swims around the sunken ship. The ship's hull is visible beyond the school of fish. The view is completely different from what you see on land in Atami. It has been about 40 years since this ship sank into the sea. Having spent a long time underwater, it has now become a habitat for various living creatures. As the hull gradually changes its appearance, there are different discoveries every time you visit. If you shine a light and peek into the hull, you might find remnants of the ladders that were used back then. You may also encounter a large grouper. The first dive is on the bow side. The second dive is on the stern side. Even with the same sunken ship, changing the diving spot alters the scenery. You can swim while admiring the massive ship, navigate through schools of fish, and observe what remains of the ship. A ship from about 40 years ago and the marine life of today. The charm of diving at the sunken ship in Atami is being able to see both at once. After finishing the dive and coming out of the sea, you find yourself in Atami, one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts. While being a day trip distance from Tokyo, you can enjoy a day that is a little different from the usual Japanese sightseeing. 🌈Experience a special day by the sea in Japan. Hokulea Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to the Japanese sea that can be enjoyed as a day trip from Tokyo, focusing on Shonan and Izu. The tours are small group-based and can accommodate English guidance. Why not take a look at another Japan sleeping in the sea during your trip to Japan? We will suggest the best sea for you according to your diving experience and travel schedule.

Inquiries about swimming conditions are increasing📢 At the beaches in Shimoda City, swimming conditions are determined on the morning of the day. There are no forecasts provided in advance. Depending on the weather and sea conditions, swimming conditions may change throughout the day. Please check the latest swimming conditions and enjoy the sea safely😌 👇Check swimming conditions here https://www.shimoda-city.info/kaisuiyoku...

Due to the influence of the typhoon, the sea conditions are subject to change🌊🌀 The swimming conditions will be assessed on the morning of the day, but may change throughout the day depending on the weather and wave conditions. Please check the swimming conditions below😌👇 https://www.shimoda-city.info/kaisuiyoku... https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260806...

【Notice】Shira-Iwasaki Campsite Temporary Reopening and Reservation Start!⛺️ The "Shira-Iwasaki Campsite," which has been closed, will temporarily reopen during the following period✨ In conjunction with this, we are currently accepting reservations! 📅 Temporary Reopening Period From Monday, August 10 to Wednesday, September 30 As there are limited slots available, please make your reservations early if you plan to visit. We sincerely look forward to your visit! ▶︎ For more details, please check the "Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association Official Website" listed in the profile.

About one hour from Tokyo. A day spent enjoying summer in Japan by the sea. As the rainy season ends, summer truly begins in Japan. In this hot season, why not take a little break from the city and head to the beach? Just a 30-minute drive from Hokulea Shonan, the destination is Enoura, a small seaside town in Kanagawa Prefecture. Although it is a place you can visit on a day trip from Tokyo, time flows differently there compared to the city. The blue sky. The calm sea. Just listening to the sound of the waves naturally relaxes your mind. And then, into the water. The moment you enter the sea, the cool water envelops your entire body. This comfort makes you forget the summer heat. "I want to dive a little longer." It felt like I could hear such voices throughout the day. In this season, there are summer-only scenes beneath the sea. Clownfish have begun to spawn. The sight of parent fish carefully protecting their eggs is a special scene you can only encounter at this time. Diving is not just about enjoying the underwater scenery. Visiting a seaside town, feeling the seasons, and experiencing Japan's natural beauty. Such moments are also an important part of this experience. For those with a license, of course, we also offer introductory diving for beginners. How about adding a day at the sea to your Tokyo trip? Japan's hidden charms are surely waiting for you, not found in guidebooks. Experience a special day by the sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokulea Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About one hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to Japan's seas, including Shonan and Izu, which can be enjoyed on a day trip from Tokyo. The theme is, "Let's embark on a journey to the unseen world!" Through diving, we hope you can feel the beauty of Japan's seas, its rich nature, and the leisurely flow of time by the seaside. Our tours are small group-based. Beginners and those who are not confident swimmers can participate with peace of mind. We also offer guidance in English. Why not add a day by the sea to your memories of your trip to Japan? We will suggest the perfect sea experience for you, tailored to your diving experience and travel schedule. Feel free to contact us!

My first summer at Suishohama Beach was amazing.

Summer haze over the Harima-nada Sea. The view of the sunset from Ikuba Fishing Port on the western coast of Awaji Island also showcases the Harima-nada Sea. The sea during sunset is beautiful, with calm waves, and the hazy sky presents a lovely gradient, revealing a mysterious scenery.

Experience summer ahead of time at the Izu coast. Just a short distance from Tokyo, a summer sea awaits. This time, I visited Kawana and Shobuzawa in Higashi-Izu. With the blue sea and summer sunshine, it's a weekend to feel the essence of a Japanese summer a little early. The first dive was at a limited-time boat point in Kawana. As I entered the water, I was greeted by a school of fish filling my view. There were so many fish that I couldn't see the diver swimming in front of me. It's a rich underwater landscape unique to Japan. After enjoying the dive, we headed to Shobuzawa. In the evening, we enjoyed a BBQ by the seaside. Surrounded by the sound of waves, we shared stories about the day's events. It's a relaxed summer night that can only be experienced while traveling. The next day, we headed to a popular shipwreck dive site. However, due to the typhoon swells, the water visibility was only 30 cm. In nature's sea, you can't always meet the same scenery. Still, spending time accepting the day’s sea is one of the charms of diving. This time, it became an unforgettable two days filled with encounters with beautiful schools of fish, BBQ with friends, and the birth of advanced divers. Japan's summer is just getting started. Enjoying the sea, local cuisine, and spending holidays in nature. Let's experience these unique Japanese adventures together. — A special day by the sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokulea Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to beautiful seas that can be visited in a day trip from Tokyo, such as Shonan and Izu. Our theme is, "Let's embark on a journey to the unseen world." Through diving, we hope you enjoy the beauty of Japan's seas, its rich nature, and the slow passage of time by the seaside. Our tours are small in size. Even those trying diving for the first time or those who are not confident in swimming can participate with ease. We also offer guidance in English. How about spending a special day by the sea as a memory of your trip to Japan? Based on your travel schedule and diving experience, we will suggest the perfect sea for you. Feel free to contact us.

This summer, head to Minami-Izu, where it's not too hot! 🌊☀️ ● About swimming and activities https://x.gd/Yiubz... ● Minami-Izu Town continues to have zero days of extreme heat (as of July 17)! https://x.gd/WewOB... ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🏖️ Yumigahama Beach ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ A stunning beach with white sand and green pines, selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Beaches" and "Top 100 Swimming Spots"! This year, Yumigahama Splash Water Park is back! 🛟 Enjoy water activities and swimming together. 📅 From July 18 (Saturday) to August 23 (Sunday) * Yumigahama Splash Water Park will be open until August 23. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤿 Hirizo Beach (Nakagi) ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ A hidden beach accessible only by boat! 🚤 Thanks to the Kuroshio current, it boasts excellent visibility and is a paradise for snorkeling with abundant fish. 🐠 📅 From July 1 (Saturday) to September 30 (Wednesday) 🚢 Hirizo Beach swimming tour now accepting reservations! Departure dates: August 8-16, September 19-22 Adults 6,500 yen / Children 5,500 yen Sign up for the tour here: https://x.gd/ZH3a4... ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎆 49th Yumigahama Fireworks Festival ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ The water fireworks viewed from the sandy beach are breathtaking! ✨ 📅 August 8 (Saturday) from 8 PM ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🏝️ List of summer swimming spots ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 1️⃣ Yumigahama Beach July 18 - August 30 2️⃣ Koura Beach July 27 - August 16 3️⃣ Yagawahama and Tawarahama Ferry Crossing (Mera) July 18 - August 31 * Starting July 25! Izu the South 34°N: https://www.izu34n.jp// * Summer posters are also on sale! B1 (Ishimuro Shrine) 500 yen, B2 (Hammerhead Shark, two types of fireflies from Ihama) 300 yen (Free distribution to Minami-Izu residents) 📷 A photo contest is also underway! Winners will receive luxurious prizes. Apply here: https://x.gd/LRM7Q...

Enjoying a day in Shizura, Nishi-Izu with guests from Sweden Nishi-Izu, easily accessible for a day trip from the Tokyo area. On this day, we headed to Shizura in Nishi-Izu with guests visiting from Sweden. Shizura is a quiet diving spot with calm seas. Away from the hustle and bustle of tourist attractions, a relaxed atmosphere typical of Japan's seaside flows here. Mixing English and Japanese by the sea The conversations of the day were a mix of English and Japanese. If there were words we didn't understand, we communicated in different ways or used gestures. Even if we didn't fully understand each other, entering the sea together and sharing the same scenery naturally brought us closer. Diving is not just about enjoying the ocean. It's also a time that connects people beyond nationalities and language differences. Lunch at a local spot after the sea After diving, we enjoyed lunch together at a local restaurant. Reflecting on the time spent in the sea, we gathered around the same table. Diving into Japan's waters, dining at a local place, and spending leisurely time in a seaside town. It's a local day that's a bit different from a typical trip to famous tourist spots. Thank you for joining us. A special day by the sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokulea Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to Japan's seas, such as Shonan and Izu, perfect for a day trip from Tokyo. The theme is "Let's embark on a journey to an unseen world!" Through diving, we hope you can feel the beauty of Japan's seas, the richness of nature, and the local seaside experience. Tours are conducted in small groups. Beginners and those who are not confident swimmers can participate with peace of mind. We also provide guidance in English. Would you like to spend a day by the sea during your trip to Japan? Based on your travel schedule and diving experience, we'll propose the perfect sea for you. Feel free to contact us first.

🌊 A Day to Become a Diver in the Sea of Japan Leaving the bustling streets of Tokyo, we head to Nishi-Izu. This time, we visit Shizura, where a quiet sea stretches out. The sky was cloudy, but the temperature was pleasant for spending time by the sea. As we gazed at the calm waters, our first steps toward becoming divers began. This time, the participants are all aiming to obtain their diving licenses for the first time. 🤿 Preparation Before Entering the Water Diving starts before entering the water. First, we prepare equipment like tanks and regulators. Listening to the instructor's explanations, we assemble each piece with our own hands. At first, the unfamiliar equipment feels daunting. However, after practicing several times while checking the order, we gradually start to understand how it works. Once preparations are complete, we have a briefing in front of the sea. We all review what we will do underwater, the conditions of the sea that day, and points for safe enjoyment. 🫧 The World Underwater, Breathing for the First Time With our gear on, we finally head into the sea. First, we adjust our breathing at the surface. Feeling a bit nervous with the unfamiliar equipment, we slowly make our way into the water. Once submerged, the surrounding sounds become quiet. Fish swim right in front of us, and the seabed is spread with rocks and sand. It's a completely different view from the land. Initially focused on breathing and posture, as we get more comfortable, we find ourselves enjoying the underwater scenery. When everyone returns to the surface, smiles have replaced the nervous expressions. 🌏 Over Three Days, an Entrance to a New World In the PADI Open Water Diver Course, we learn the necessary knowledge and skills for diving over three days. Breathing underwater, using equipment, and the basics of diving safely. Each experience builds upon the last, and everyone successfully obtained their licenses. Obtaining the license is not the goal. It's a new start to enjoy the seas of Japan and around the world. Thank you to everyone who participated. 🇯🇵 The Seas of Japan Are Recommended in Autumn Too When thinking about the season to enjoy the sea in Japan, many might picture summer. In fact, the sea in Izu is most comfortable around September to October. The water temperature is high, making it an easy season to enjoy diving. If you obtain your license during summer, you can fully enjoy the sea during the best season. There's another side of Japan that you won't encounter just by sightseeing in Tokyo or Yokohama. Why not take a step into a new world during your travels? Time spent underwater will surely become a special memory of your journey. ✨ A Special Day by the Sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokulea Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to the seas of Japan that can be enjoyed as day trips from Tokyo, such as Shonan and Izu. Our theme is "Let's embark on a journey to the unseen world!" Through diving, we hope you can feel the beauty of Japan's seas, the richness of nature, and the local seaside experience. Our tours are small in size. Beginners and those who are not confident in swimming can participate with peace of mind. We also provide guidance in English. Would you like to spend a day by the sea during your trip to Japan? We will suggest a sea that suits you according to your travel schedule and diving experience. Please feel free to contact us.

First-time boat diving. Experience the sea of Nishi-Izu on a day trip from Tokyo. About a 3-hour drive from Tokyo. In Tago, Nishi-Izu, there is a port town where time flows leisurely. On this day, I went for my first boat dive during the AOW course. The sea was very calm. It was the perfect condition for a first boat dive. At first, I struggled a bit with equalizing my ears, but by the second dive, I was able to do it calmly. I could gradually do more things. That's one of the joys of diving. In Tago, there are many dive sites that can only be accessed by boat. This time, we headed to one of them, the entrance of a cave. A rocky space opened up in the blue sea. At the entrance, a school of hatanpo fish gathered, creating a fantastical underwater scene. This time, just a little. Next time, let's explore deeper into the cave. At the end of the diving session, I successfully became an AOW diver. Congratulations! The next destination is Okinawa. Japan still has many different expressions of the sea waiting for you. As summer arrives, the water temperature is rising. The sea that can be enjoyed on a day trip from Tokyo is also entering its best season. Not just famous tourist spots, but the seas of Japan. Hokule'a Shonan offers small group diving tours tailored to each individual. Would you like to spend a special day by the sea in Japan? --- A special day by the sea in Japan. 🌈 Hokule'a Shonan is a small diving shop located in Hiratsuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. About an hour by train from Tokyo. We guide you to the seas of Japan that can be enjoyed on a day trip from Tokyo, such as Shonan and Izu. The theme is, "Let's embark on a journey to the unseen world!" I hope you can feel the beauty of Japan's seas, the richness of nature, and the local coastal time through diving. The tours are small group-based. Beginners and those who are not confident in swimming can participate with peace of mind. We also offer support in English. Would you like to spend a day by the sea during your trip to Japan? We will suggest a sea that suits you based on your travel schedule and diving experience. Please feel free to contact us.

About an hour from Tokyo. In the sea, there is an unknown Japan. Manatsuru, which can be visited as a day trip from Tokyo or Yokohama. This small port town has special views known only to divers. This time, we visited "Iwa." It’s about a 40-minute drive from Hiratsuka. A convenient boat diving spot. It takes just a few minutes to reach the sea by boat. Once you enter the water, colorful soft corals spread out before you. Schools of fish swim slowly through the calm sea. The highlight of this place is the large iron frame reef sunk to the seabed. Originally used as scaffolding for bridge construction, it has now become a habitat for marine creatures and a popular spot for divers. Swimming between the massive structures feels like exploring underwater ruins. Soft corals sway above, and light filters through. Lionfish swim slowly, while small fish dart around them. The creatures you encounter change with the seasons. In summer, you see schools of fish. In winter, vibrant sea slugs. Throughout the year, you can enjoy different scenery with each visit. After diving, enjoying a leisurely lunch in Manatsuru or Shonan is also recommended. Just a little stretch from the city, a day like this awaits you. Japan's seas hold many undiscovered charms. On your next trip, why not visit the underwater Japan?

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?

At exactly 5:00 AM on the 17th, I looked out at Enoshima. Suddenly, a drifting cloud appeared above the island. Upon closer inspection, the blue sky had a gradient that resembled drawn lines. The cloud quickly billowed up and then vanished like steam. The early bird catches the worm; I got to see something interesting!

【Event Announcement】 Enjoy the Summer Sea! Announcement of the "SUP Experience Event" at Amakusa Shimoda Onsen! Hello everyone! This summer, we invite you to a special event where you can truly experience the beautiful sea of Amakusa! The popular marine activity "SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding)" will be held at Amakusa Shimoda Onsen on Saturday, July 25th! Why not enjoy the stunning views of Amakusa from the best seats while gently swaying on the waves? Everyone from elementary school students and up is welcome. Join us with your family and friends to create wonderful summer memories! Additionally, after the experience, we have delicious barbecues and attractive accommodation plans available at "Yume Hotaru Camping"! It's a satisfying plan that allows you to fully enjoy Amakusa all day long. We look forward to your applications! 【Event Overview】 ・Date and Time: Saturday, July 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM ・Location: Odatokowan (Meet on site) ・Address: 426 Shimoda Minami, Amakusa City, 863-2802 ・SUP Experience Participation Fee: 3,300 yen per person (for elementary school students and up) 【Enjoyment Options】 ① Barbecue at Yume Hotaru Camping ・Participation Fee: Adults 5,500 yen / Children 3,300 yen ・Address: 1-2971 Shimoda Kita, Amakusa City, 863-2803 *If the number of participants does not reach the limit, we may have to cancel the event. ② Accommodation Plan at Yume Hotaru Camping ・Cabin (up to 4 people) rental: 4,400 yen per person 【Notes】 ・Please ensure you have your own accident insurance. ・If the weather is bad on the day of the event, the event and plans may be canceled. ・The content of this event may be published in images, videos, and texts on the official website and brochures. It may also be featured in magazines and websites due to media coverage. ・Please adhere to the notes and rules, and participate at your own risk. 【Application and Inquiries】 ・Application Method: Please fill out the necessary information on the application form to apply. ・Organizer: Amakusa West Coast Sunset Council ・Cooperation: Amakusa Takarajima Tourism Association Amakusa Branch, Shimoda Onsen Ryokan Association ・Contact: Shimoda Onsen Ryokan Association, Amakusa

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... ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🏖️ Yumigahama Beach ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🤿 Hirizo Beach (Nakagi) ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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... ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🎆 49th Yumigahama Fireworks Festival ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ The fireworks viewed from the sandy beach are breathtaking! ✨ 📅 August 8 (Saturday) from 8 PM ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🏝️ List of Summer Swimming Spots ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 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//

【Media Information】Kazuma-en will be featured on RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting's "Sorakuma"! We are pleased to announce that Kazuma-en will be introduced on the program "Sorakuma," which airs every Saturday on RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting. "Sorakuma" is a program that introduces various aspects of Kumamoto Prefecture from an aerial perspective, showcasing beautiful images captured by drones that reveal the region's seasonal and local diversity. Enjoy captivating visuals of the rich nature and stunning coastlines from above, offering a unique perspective! Details of the broadcast are as follows. We hope you all tune in. Program Name: RKK Kumamoto Broadcasting (Channel 3) "Sorakuma" Broadcast Date and Time: Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 18:50 Program Overview: Titled "Kumamoto from the Sky = Sorakuma," this program focuses on drone footage showcasing various scenes from across the prefecture.

We visited Ogijima, an island with nature and art in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, as a family and took a walk to the edge of the island (the walking ark). It was a hot day, making the walk challenging, but we had a great time.