beach trip to Shimoda

John surprised the family with a three day beach trip to Shimoda, on the Izu Penisula of Japan - just three hours on the Shinkansen / bullet train from Tokyo.  It felt like a world away.  Shimoda is where Commodore Perry arrived in 1853 - in his attempt to 'open up' Japan to the outside world (all foreigners were restricted from entering Japan for a couple hundred years).  So now the Perry phenomenon is one of the elements of the tourist route along the Izu Penisula. 

look dad - there's a beach here!

walker takes on the waves....

a replica of Perry's ship -

feel free to choose your version of Perry from the choices offered in the museum

the canal

crabbing on the canal

dad - we have to go here - they have pizza!

Alice, after her onsen (hot spring bath) experience with mummy

Mace Windu and Yoda visit a Shimoda park

A seven hundred year old Minka - traditional farmhouse - relocated to Shimoda in the 1960's

John's favorite building in Shimoda - what's not to like about a house no wider than a moped?  door is behind anonymous gate at right - can't tell if its an addition to building beyond

a facade only John could like - or even notice

while mummy and Alice went to the onsen, Walker and dad explored the coast line - with little islands and inlets

the hydrangea festival was in full bloom