#shimoda

hydrangea, ajisai (あじさい)

2025.2.22 静岡 伊豆高原駅と(下田)白浜里の桜

Underrated series: Tenchi Souzo Design-bu

Shimoda is just so precious baby-coded 😭 Everything in this series is cute + educational

Torii Gate on Reef Facing the Rising Sun

Location: Shirahama, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan Timestamp: 06:30 on January 3, 2024

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 28 mm ISO 100 for 0.5 sec. at ƒ/8.0

Located within a 3-hour drive of Tokyo, Shirahama Beach is a popular destination for beachgoers and surfers during the summer. While surfers are still present during the colder months, the beach is mostly empty, providing an opportunity to experience long stretches of sand free of human footprints.

At the northern end of the beach lies Daimyojin-Iwa (大明神岩), roughly translated to “rock of deity with extraordinary spiritual powers.” Atop Daimyoji Iwa stands a red torii gate facing the sea. The torii belongs to Ikona-hime-no-Mikotojinja Shrine, commonly known as Shirahama Shrine, the oldest Shinto shrine on the Izu Peninsula, and is only a 2-minute walk from the shoreline.

During midday, you can enjoy the lovely white sands and deep turquoise sea that stand in stark contrast with the red torii gate. If you visit early in the morning, however, you can experience beautiful skies and a sandy shore blanketed in a soft coral pink hue.