Are you looking for a nice beach vacation spot which isn't as far from Tokyo as Okinawa is? If so then Shimoda is the perfect spot! It's good for a night or two of getting out of the big city and getting a taste of nature. A great little town nestled in Shizuoka Prefecture, it is most famous for Shirahama Beach which is arguably the best beach within striking distance (3-4 hours) of Tokyo. Beware however that due to its beauty, the crowds flock so it will likely be quite crowded during your visit. You should try the combination of shaved ice and yogurt that they sell in front of the beach. It comes in a variety of flavors and it's unbelievably satisfying and refreshing on a hot summer day. Shirahama Shrine is located on some rocks on the far west of the beach. There are some incredible pictures that you can snap from that spot if there aren't too many people who follow you there ;) If you want to actually stay close to the madness, a Bed and Breakfast called A Million Roses Pension seems to have received several astounding reviews and might be worth investigating more.
If you are looking to avoid the crowds altogether however, you can stay in a FABULOUS little place called Pension Marine Shower. The Owners are a couple, Yurie and Yoshifumi. The atmosphere is lovely, the room clean and comfortable and the overall experience exceptional! Hospitality is certainly at its finest here. Yurie actually came and picked me up at the bus stop since it was a bit far from the hotel. Yurie also takes a picture of all guests and puts it on the website, so I'm expecting to be famous soon! Also, the breakfast that they provide is well-worth the money!
Pension Marine Shower is a 5-minute walk from Kisami Ohama Beach, which is a much quieter beach than Shirahama Beach. It has much stronger waves however, and is known by many surfers and is frequented by many non-Japanese people as well. During the evening, I was lucky enough to have a meal in a family-run restaurant in a location that allows for an incredible view of the beach! The family has been operating this restaurant for over 30 years...wow!
Shirahama Shrine
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