Minami Izu - long time no see!

 We wanted to go somewhere nice but not too far from home. So, we decided to go to the southern tip of Izu peninsula and stay at a hotel on the shore of Yumigahama beach. It only takes a few hours by train to get from Yokosuka to Shimoda, and then a short bus ride from Shimoda to Yumiahama beach. 

Once we arrived in Shimoda we decided to do some sightseeing and eat lunch before going to Yumigahama. 

We started our sightseeing at Perry Road. A part of Shimoda named after Commodore Mathew C. Perry.  This is a small ramen shop at the end of Perry Road.

Perry Road follows along a picturesque canal.  

There are a lot of traditional/historical buildings in this area.

Most of the buildings are shops and restaurants.

It's very peaceful here.

Here comes Emi!

The crisscross pattern on the buildings is part of the traditional architecture of this area.

Aloe plants are common in this area of Izu.

The canal is lined with willow trees. The trees will look much nicer in the spring. 

Fish food restaurant.

An old inn that is now a historical sightseeing spot.

Day 2: A day trip to Cape Irozaki

After breakfast we caught a bus to Irozaki. There's plenty of good sightseeing in Irozaki.

Cape Irozaki Lighthouse.

From the lighthouse we walked to the Irojinja Shrine.

The shrine is built into the side of the mountainous bluff overlooking the pacific ocean. 

Inside the shrine looking out at the ocean.

Inside the shrine. This place must be crowded on the weekend. Today we have it all to ourselves.

From this point on the cape one has a better view of how the shrine is built into the mountain.

Now we're walking to the end of Cape Irozaki.

A tiny shrine on the tip of the cape.

The view from here is incredible.

Time to head back to the main road. Wherever you go in Japan there's always lots of stairs!

When we reached the main road we found it would be a half hour wait for the bus so we decided to walk to the Aloe Center and catch a bus from there.

Plenty to see while walking along the road.

Emi leads the way!

This is the Aloe Center. We went in and I bought some Aloe lotion and soap.

Here comes our bus!

We got of the bus at this intersection so that we could go for a walk along the Aono river.

The walking path along the Aono river is lined with Kawazu cherry blossom trees. 

Walking past a field of mustard plants that are in full bloom.

The Kuwazu cherry blossom trees are early-bloomers.

We walked along the Aono river until we arrived at the Shimogama road station where we ate lunch. There were several food trucks to choose from.

We bought our lunch from the fish & chips truck.

After lunch it was time to walk back to our hotel. Yes, it's me!

In another week these cherry trees will be in full bloom.

After about an hour of walking we arrived back at our hotel. The hotel website:

Kyukamura Minami-Izu

I must say that the hotel is outstanding. And, it's less than a one minute walk from the hotel to to Yumigahama beach!

This is Yumigahama beach! 

In the summer time the beach can be quite crowded but in the winter there's almost nobody here.

After walking long the beach we returned to the hotel and went up to the roof top lounge. There are several hammocks on the roof top for people to lay in at night and observe the stars.

Funny thing about hammocks... they're easy to get into and hard to get out of.

Well, we had a wonderful 3 day visit at Minami-Izu but now it's time to take the train home. bye-bye!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike

The Big Kochi Prefecture Adventure - Nakatsu Gorge

 On this day of our Kochi adventure we are visiting Nakatsu Gorge. 

We started at the Kochi city main train station. We took this train to get to Sakawa station and from there we rode a bus to get to the gorge.  

From the Nakatsu Gorge bus stop it was a long walk uphill to get to the gorge nature trail. When we arrived at the nature trail I could tell from my first glance the long journey to get here was well worth it! 

We start the walk full of excitement not knowing for sure what we will see. Or, how difficult the trail may be. This is an adventure!

I'm surprised that we're the only people on the trail.

The trail goes up and down, mostly up, lots of stairs... we press on! 

The scenery is impressive. These boulders are huge.

I'm all smiles - this is fun!

The trail follows the Nakatsu river.

I'm stopping this gigantic boulder from rolling over so that Emi can pass by safely. 

The trail crosses back and forth over the Nakatsu river. We're heading for the Uryu no Taki waterfall.

We finally encounter one other person on the trail. 

We have arrived at the Uryu no Taki waterfall observation point.

Emi took my picture.

The waterfall is 20 meters tall but it is extremally difficult to photograph. It's one of those things that one has to see in person to get appreciate it.

From the water fall there are two options. (1) go back the way we came, or (2) continue on and enjoy the full length of the nature trail. Of course we continued on, how hard could it be?

Man! this trail is getting harder faster! 

Passing by another waterfall. 

The trail keeps going up.

...and up...

...and, up some more!

Okay, it seems to have leveled off and now we're heading back down.

I'm starting feel like Indiana Jones!

These are the famous "Stone Pillars". It's another one of those things that one has to see in person to appreciate.

Pressing on; the moss is thick and the trail is wet and muddy. We don't care, we're tough!  

Thankfully we have reached the end of the trail and it's all down hill from here.  

Now all we have to do is follow this road to get to the bus stop.

We walk down the road in peaceful silence enjoying all the green trees around us. 

Looking down at the Nakatsu Valley Yunomori Onsen facility. That's where the nature trail started.

At the end of the road we caught our bus and returned to Sakawa train station. 

And, here comes our train to take us back to Kochi city.

The end.

All the best,

Mike