Miura Beach on a Thursday afternoon

Miura beach is located on the east side of Miura peninsula in Kanagawa prefecture and it's only about a 5 minute walk from the Miurakaigon train station on the Keikyu Kurihama train line. So, now that you know how to get there, let's see what awaits you!

First glance of the very popular Miura beach!

Exquisite water front property that rivals the best that Malibu has to offer.

A nice fix-me-upper for those on a budget.

Well, all kidding aside this is a nice local beach that is good for a day trip when you want to get away from the rat race of daily work life.

Solitude can be a good thing. Reconnect with nature and all that kind of stuff.

Kick off your flip-flops and feel the sand and salt water between your toes.

Wood poles that are used to roll boats up the beach to higher ground.

Enjoying some board sports in the awesome surf.

Due to the low crime rate in Japan people feel free to leave their valuable property unattended.

You know what is missing in this picture? It's You! Get a beach blanket, some sunscreen, the novel you've been wanting to read and fill in the blank.

Boogie boards (or whatever kind of boards they are) stacked up for the off season.

A couple of beach combers enjoying the last days of August out in the sun.

Somebody's been collecting seashells.

Kind of looks like eyeballs staring back at me.

This nylon line looks like an exotic sea anemone species. How's that for imagination?

The year round residents of Miura beach.

A grandfather spending time with his grandson.

Another grandfather hauling his sleepy grandchild from the beach to the parking lot.

Tell me, what is my life without your love
Tell me, who am I without you, by my side
What Is Life -- George Harrison

Hey! it's people! This is the more popular area of Miura beach.

Complete safety with certified lifeguards.

Plenty of room for everybody. No need for crowd control. Just plop down wherever you want and soak up the sun.

A typical seasonal beach hut. Erected only during the summer season, this hut will be crawling with people on the weekend.

Legless beach tents. I guess they're hobbled so they won't run away.

A couple of local boys giving me all the attention I deserve.

And with that, it's time to return to the train station and head home for the day.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

Sigma SD1 and 30mm lens - walk about

This is a short set taken with my Sigma SD1 camera and a Sigma 30mm art series lens. These are all taken in familiar territory. It's a good way to compare different cameras and lenses and to see which provide the kind of results that I like.

Back in the seedy side of town.

Drab and dinghy during the day, this place looks like paradise at night; at least that's what I hear.

I'm not sure what they would hang to dry here.

Road guards directing traffic around men working on power lines.

I call this "Woman on the go, men on the slow"

Moving on to Bashamichi where horses adorn the gas street lights.

There is no finer avenue in Yokohama for strolling than this one in Bashamichi. Both sides of the street are lined with trees and flowers.

I just wanna ride my bicycle.

A hazy day on Yokohama bay.

Being married by the ship's Captain.

Perhaps after the ceremony there'll be a reception on the aft party deck.

What light through yonder window breaks?

Crouching  nihonjin, hidden camera man.

Hibiscus Mutabilis, a cotton rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
I'm just full of Shakespeare today.

Well, it was fun shooting the SD1 camera today and the 30mm lens is a joy to use.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

I'm not on vacation

We're in the middle of Obon. Obon is an August week in Japan where everyone goes on vacation. Well, not everyone. Some of us are not on vacation. This is our story.

No place to go, nothing to do, might as well hang out on the corner.

Four story buildings are not required to have an elevator. This is the kind of useless information we share when we're not on vacation.

Just a man with a camera trying to be creative in the absence of anything better to do.

He was left behind to mind the store while the rest of the family went to Korea on vacation.

Some people are to young to know that they aren't on vacation. Sometimes the less you know the better off you are.

Aimlessly drifting around.

Returning from the city pool. The children were tricked into thinking that this is a vacation.

This train station is normally packed with people. Today those people are out of town on vacation.

No time off for the Colonel,

Motomachi shopping street entrance - practically deserted.

Workers thinking about where they'd rather be than at work.

The baker receiving a call from his friend who is on the beach in Waikiki.

No crowds at the Yokohama Harbor View Park.

Where one has a view of the harbor. Or, the buildings on the landfill where the harbor used to be.

I'm just moving along through Yamashita park.

Despite not being on a vacation I'm having a pretty good time.

"Always look on the bright side of life"

Who needs a vacation when one lives in such a nice place like this?

Just think about those people stuck in crowded airports, or in traffic jams on toll roads. Vacations suck.

Us lucky people left behind have the benefit of breezing through nearly empty subway stations.

Sidewalks with no need for crowd control.  

Bars where on needn't worry about having a little elbow room at the bar.

Plenty of room in this bar too.

Need a table for two? No problem.

Bicycle, bicycle, I want to ride my bicycle!
--Queen

Today's public safety tip: When one is on the train platform always stay behind the yellow line.

Because otherwise one may get flattened by a passing train.

In conclusion -- I don't need no vacation, my life is a vacation...

...because I'm living it with my wonderful wife! Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike