White sand beach which is pretty special in Japan. Most beaches in the Kansai (Tokyo) region are of dark volcanic nature. When it comes to beaches white is right!

Between the main beach and a second one, considered by the locals to be for more mature beachgoers, lies Shirahama jinja (shrine). It is the oldest shrine on the Izu peninsula and its theological focus relates to the Izu islands which lie offshore. The island gods and the gods houses in the shrine are related in a complex familial web. The red torii gate faces those islands.

Dating from the 6th century this is a beautiful place to visit. I have gone at midnight on New Year's eve for Hatsumode (first shrine visit of new year) a profoundly atmospheric event echoing for Westerners midnight mass at Christmas, and which illustrates the cultural equivalence between the festivals. There are a couple of fantastically old dried out husks of trees that amazingly still grow a few green leaves. Once is called 'white ghost' and the information board proudly informs us that this tree was already in this dried out state 1300 years ago. Shock and awe of the animist kind. A white rope girdles the inscrutable ghost tree.

Connecting the two beaches and running in front of the shrine a rocky and in places narrow path offers great views of the ocean and on clear days of the islands. A couple of years ago some rather large sandstone boulders tumbled down onto the path and it is now sensibly closed. I still insensibly use it, as it is mighty fine, and much nicer... and quicker than walking alone the road.