From Inatori Town on the East coast we can reach Shimoda (the biggest city in the Southern part of Izu) in about 30/40 minutes by car.

So it is close by, but the seaside changes a lot.

We go from the stony coasts in the East to the white sandy beaches of Shimoda.

The first time I went there I thought I was in some beach of Costa Rica.

I've been to Costa Rica about 20 years ago and I felt in the same way, as the East coast (Atlantic) and the West coast (Pacific) are a lot different there too.

The most famous beach in Shimoda is called Shirahama beach (also known as Charahama, as many young "charai" guys and girls go there in the summer to do "nanpa"). "Charai" means flashy, showy, so usually these guys and girls are heavy tanned and blond haired, while "nanpa" means flirting. It is extremely crowded in summer, so I usually prefer to go to some nearby smaller beaches, with the same white sand and crystal water but less people around.

As I wrote in the previous article, the Eastern and Southern part of Izu can be reached also by train from Tokyo (get off at Izu Kogen Station for Mount Omuro or to Shimoda Station for these beaches).

Shimoda is also famous as it was the first place where American Commodore Perry landed in 1854, ending the isolation of Japan from the rest of the World. So you can walk the Perry Road with its many shops and see everywhere his black ships.

Then going through Shimoda to the other end of it, you can choose to go right to Mount Amagi (Central part of Izu) or left to the Western part (Minami Izu, up to Toi and Heda).

In a few meters you go from a Western stylish beach town landscape to mountain and countryside. Very interesting experience.

Unfortunately, from Shimoda you can't go to Amagi or west by train, so the only alternative to the car is get on a local bus (or bycycle!).

Will continue our journey through Izu in the next blog!

Alberto