Izu Shirahama
August 10, 2024
In the summer of 2024, we visited Izu Shirahama, a beach reknown for its white sand and clear water.
Preparations
Since we don’t often go to the beach, I went to pick up some gear from the following.
- Tokyu Hands: Beach sandals and some beach toys.
- Don Quixote: Large towels to lay on the sand, an inflatable beach ball, and waterproof smartphone cases.
- IKEA: The iconic large blue bag, perfect for transporting everything.
- Local department store: Swim shirts (ラッシュガ—ド, “rash guards” though I’ve never heard the term used in English).
I’ll come back to the products at the end, but the swim shirts, beach towels, and IKEA bag in particular proved useful.
Day 1: Arrival and sea turtle presentation
We left Tokyo well past our intended departure time on a Thursday. The drive, which was expected to take over three hours, was delayed further by traffic and a Nankai Trough (南海トラフ) earthquake warning. We finally arrived at Hotel Izukyu (ホテル伊豆急) around 5 PM, with dinner starting soon after.
The hotel is located immediately next to the beach and features a private pathway leading down to it, which was convenient. Despite our late arrival, we squeezed in about 15 minutes at the hotel pool before changing for a splendid buffet dinner, which the whole family enjoyed.
That evening, we attended a nice presentation at the hotel on sea turtles given by an expert from the Shimoda Floating Aquarium (下田海中水族館). We learned about the lifecycle and migration patterns of loggerhead sea turtles (アカウミガメ). I was amazed to learn that these turtles hatch on specific Japanese beaches, migrate to Mexico, and later return to Japan to nest. The nesting and hatching events are closely watched in Japan by experts, such as seen in this tweet.
The presentation concluded with live sea turtles being brought out for the kids to see and touch, which was a highlight.
This concludes Day 1.
Day 2: Beach fun and poolside relaxation
After a hearty buffet breakfast the next day, we headed to the beach. The hotel’s private staircase made access easier, though it didn’t lead directly to the beach—you still need to cross a road. Finding a crosswalk took us away from the main entrance and brought us to a smaller subentrance. From there, we walked toward the main entrance.
At a stand, we rented a parasol. Later, we realized this wasn’t the official rental stand, and the prices were higher. The official vendor was located just in front of this one, which we would have found if we had gone directly in the main entrance.
The beach was fantastic. The waves were perfect for playing, and the swim shirts kept us warm despite the slightly chilly water.
The kids were excited so lunch was a bit challenging. My wife ended up bringing back onigiri and drinks from the convenience store across the street.
Later, we returned to the hotel pool, enjoyed shaved ice (かき氷), and relaxed in the shade. The kids wanted to play indefinitely, but with the long drive ahead, we finally convinced them to leave around 3 PM—just as a typhoon warning prompted the evacuation of the pool and beach areas.
The drive back to Tokyo was long and traffic-filled. We departed behind schedule again, which meant extending our carshare return time.
Postmortem: What went well and lessons learned
What went well:
- The hotel was just wonderful.
- The sea turtle presentation was educational and engaging for both kids and adults.
- The beach itself was among the best I’ve visited in Japan—beautiful and family-friendly.
- Swim shirts were indispensable for warmth and sun protection.
Lessons learned:
- Timely departure: Leaving on time is essential. Our late departure cost us valuable beach time.
- Beach vendor research: Verify official beach vendor prices in advance. We overpaid for a parasol by renting from the wrong stand. You can check information on the official-looking site here.
- Comfortable beach footwear: The beach sandals I bought for my kid were a miss—the toe strap caused discomfort and significant friction to going to the beach.
- Portable water containers: These would have been handy for rinsing sand off and other uses. My wife ended up trekking back to the store area to fetch water in plastic bags.
- Quality waterproof cases: The smartphone cases from Don Quixote were poor quality; the straps didn’t work, rendering them useless. Next time, I’ll opt for a reputable brand like Elecom.
Conclusion
This was a wonderful trip to a fantastic hotel and beach. Recommended.