Japan Stories: October 1999

Biking around Shimoda

On one of our days on the Izu Penninsula, we borrow bikes from our inn, and bike down to the harbor town of Shimoda. This isn't exactly a big town, but we have a fun day there. Upon arriving in town, we bike to the top of a hilltop park.

View of Shimoda's harbor from hilltop park

Taking a different trail on the way down from the park, the trail suddenly changes from a path into a very long staircase. People walking up the staircase are confused as to why anyone would have brought bikes to the top. 

Coming down a hill is supposed to be easier than going up

We bike along a path that skirts a small peninsula south of town. At one point we see a long jetty with lots of people fishing from it. We walk along the jetty, and discover a surprisingly broad spectrum of people fishing.

These days it's impossible to escape the sight of women in platform shoes, even on a fishing pier

Biking back into Shimoda, we stop for lunch, then check out some of the Shinto shrines in town. (You can't swing a dead cat in Japan without hitting a temple or shrine.)

Front of small temple

Small wooden plaques hanging near shrine; we think they carry wishes of shrine visitors

Stone dog guarding shrine entrance

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