SHORT TRIPS
Near Numazu is a small city of Nirayama, where the first cannons were cast in Japan. The foundry, pictured above, was used in 1860's to melt four kinds of metals to cast the cannon seen at the right. This cannon was the first one made in Japan to force out all foreigners. The steel framing has been added to preserve the brick structure from earthquakes. This particular cannon could shoot an 8 lb. shot about two miles out to sea.
Another day trip was around the westen end of Izu Peninsula. Our first stop was at Cape Ose, a finger in Suruga Bay. This quiet harbor is a mecca for scuba divers. On most weekends there are 100's of divers enjoying the underwater. The finger is only 100 yards wide and is host to a shrine. Divers check equipment and prepare to enter the water from the harbor shore line.
Further down the coast is a view of Suruga Bay. After a hilly walk, we were able to stop at Lover's Pont. The stone ring also has a large bell above and those in love are to ring it for continued happiness.
"Big hell supfur hot pits" is high up in Hokone NP. It earned its name from all the hot sulfur steam that emits from the ground. Here snow and steam blend to make a view out of Dante's novel, Inferno. The smell of rotten eggs is overpowering. There is a consession stand at the top that sells eggs boiled in the sulfur water. They become black inside from the sulfur water. The afternoon we visited, it was so windy that I could lean over 45 degrees and the wind would hold me upright. Hokone is only an hours drive from Numazu.
Across Izu Peninsula from Numazu is the town of Ito. Although it is port city, it is on the bay that looks across to Yokohama. As my host drove us to visit Ito, we rounded a mountain curve to see this large temple area. The stone statue is not the largest in Japan, but it is overwhelming to see from the road. There are thousands of white grave markers all along the hillside.
Atami is easily accessable by a 25 minute trian ride. It too is a city built on a mountain side overlooking the Pacific. The old Atami Castle (pictured above) sits high on a bluff for protection from armed assults. Today it is a resort town with hot spring baths, public gardens and old villas. We stayed after dark to enjoy the lighted waterfront The city has bathed the beach in blue lights with accents of colors in fountians, statues, carvings and arched lights.
Mishima, the town next to Numazu, is a favorite train ride for us. It only takes seven minutes and cost under $2 each. We love to go to one of the many city parks to enjoy the springs. Here water from Fuji creates cascades, pools and streams past flower beds and little islands of trees.
Adjacent to Mishma is another small town called Shimizu-cho. Here the Fuji water comes out in pools and makes a river. The above picture is a pool that is over 20' deep but at the bottom, you can see the sand bubbling up from the underground spring. The water is crystal clear and tastes as good as it looks.
