From Guesthouse tabi-tabi, take a 40 minute bus ride down and around the coast to Nakagi, pay a 1000 yen for a 5 minute boat ride and you'll arrive at the underwater wonderland, Hirizo. Before boarding the ship you can pick up some cold drinks, and rent the required snorkel and mask for only 500 yen. Do pack well, Hirizo is nothing but a rocky beach. There are no toilets or vending machines. We brought beach chairs, a parasol, towels, fins (flippers), sunscreen, drinks, snacks, and an underwater camera. If you have a wetsuit or surfing vest it will keep you in the water longer and let you dive deeper as it can get pretty chilly hanging out with cold blooded creatures all day. There are tons of fish to see! I wish I knew the names of them all but can just tell you there are big ones, little ones, blue ones, yellow ones, and striped ones. Some hang out in massive schools while others can be seen hiding alone between rocks and soft coral. We spotted lots of sea anemone too but have yet to find any nudibranches (colorful sea-slugs) but I know they are out there somewhere! Will be back soon with a better pair of goggles to help me find the finer creatures. Click on any pic for my flickr set!

UPDATE: Please be aware that on days when waves are big or the sea is choppy there will be no boats heading to Hirizo. You can find contact details for Nakagi and Hirizo on their (Japanese only) website here.

As I have mentioned in my blog about kayaking, the best way to see Izu's rugged coastline is from the sea. But if you are not feeling so active and don't want to spend a day paddling then I highly recommend taking a 25 minute cruise around Irozaki. Irozaki is the southern most tip of the Izu Peninsula, about a 30 minute drive from Shimoda. It is also possible to take a bus from the Kisami area then walk down to the peer. Boats depart every 30 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 15:30 p.m. and cost ¥1200 for adults/¥600 for children. You will most likely be on the A Course tour since the B Course is only used on days when the sea is too choppy to head west. Once your ship gets out of the bay, look up and you will see Irozaki (Cape Iro) easily identified with its shrine built into the cliff. You can also visit this shrine after you disembark by following the path from the peer up and along the cape. More about the shrine and look-out point here, and a link for the Izu Cruise homepage here.

Are you an instagrammer? We are! You can "follow us" at tabitabijapan, or check out all of our Izu photos here. Enjoy!

The Travel Volunteer team, Katy and Jamie, came and stayed with us for two nights at Guesthouse tabi-tabi in Shimoda and one night at Lodge tabi-tabi, Hakuba. Here is a pic of Katy chatting with some local ladies in Minami Izu (just south of Shimoda). We had come to our usual sunset spot and ran into this cheerful gaggle of girls who said the clouds in the sky looked like an angel's wing.

Katy and Jamie are on a mission to capture the beauty of Japan and report on conditions in order  to relieve fears and bring the tourists back. You can follow their adventures through the 47 prefectures here. If you would also like to help Japan, report on the endless beauty, and experience the rich culture in the Land of the Rising Sun, you can apply for a 10,000 free airline ticket give-away! Find out more here.

Here is a picture of the Kisami area of Shimoda. From left to right, Goishi Beach, Ohama Beach, Maiso Beach, Irita Beach, Tatado Beach, and then more rocky coast line.

Summer is over..... NOT! Actually, the fun has just begun! Today was the last day of work for the lifeguards (aka fun police), parking is now free everywhere (was 1500 yen during the "official" summer season), the crowds are gone, the traffic has unjammed, the best restaurants have seating available, and all the locals are expending a huge exhale before swigging down a cold one...... Yes, anyone who spends much time here will tell you that September is undoubtedly the best time to enjoy Shimoda!

The sea is warm, but contrary to popular belief, there are no jellyfish. Yes, we know Kanagawa (Shonan) jellyfish are taking away all the fun of having a refreshing dip in the ocean, but here in Shimoda I have never *knock on wood* seen or felt a jellyfish, or even heard of anyone else getting stung. Now, back to the beach I go....

Late last night I went for a stroll along Ohama beach and with every wave that crashed on the beach, glowing lights shimmered at my feet. I have never seen so many yakochu (bioluminescent plankton)!

If you are quick, you can catch these mysterious glowing lights. When one lights up, scoop it up along with a bit of sand, keep shaking your hands slightly or the light will go out. The plankton only lights up when disturbed.

Another great way to experience Izu's natural beauty is to get on a bike and ride. Aloha Bike Trip Cycling Tours can take you on road trips, mountain bike tours, night cruises, half day rides, over-night adventures, and can show the kids around as well. They have tours for all levels,  provide instruction for beginner moutain bikers, and have bikes for rent. They also have experienced English-speaking guides and a great English website. Check it out here

The Izu Peninsula is covered in mountains and valleys reaching out to the ocean. On some of these steep slopes farmers are still tending their terraced paddies, or tanada in Japanese.   Here are some pictures of the beautiful tanada in Matsuzaki,  the west coast of Izu. Looking foward to harvest time, when the rice will be cut and hung to dry.