Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Tokaikan - historic inn in Ito

Tokaikan (東海館), meaning "east sea inn", was built in 1928 in central Ito City on the Izu Peninsula and was expanded in 1938 and 1949. It is one of only few remaining hot spring ryokan [Japanese Inn] built of wood during the early Showa Period. It lies on the bank of the 松川 (Pine River).

Shopping district, Ito, Japan

The "shoutengai" (商店街) shopping district is a fixture of many smaller Japanese towns. It is often located between the train station and the town so that commuters can shop on their way home in the evening. Many have domes covering their walkways so that shoppers are protected from inclement weather. This photo was taken very early in the morning before the shops rolled up their metal shutters and opened for business.

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Tokaikan - historic Japanese inn, Ito City

Tokaikan (東海館), meaning "east sea inn", was built in 1928 in central Ito City on the Izu Peninsula and was expanded in 1938 and 1949. It is one of only few remaining hot spring ryokan [Japanese Inn] built of wood during the early Showa Period. It lies on the bank of the 松川 (Pine River).

Lucky gods in Ito City - Hotei

There are small statues of Japan's seven lucky gods in many cities in Japan, including these in Ito on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture. This one is Hotei (布袋), god of fortune, guardian of the children, patron of diviners and barmen, and also the god of popularity.

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Tokaikan - historic Japanese inn, Ito City

Tokaikan (東海館), meaning "east sea inn", was built in 1928 in central Ito City on the Izu Peninsula and was expanded in 1938 and 1949. It is one of only few remaining hot spring ryokan [Japanese Inn] built of wood during the early Showa Period. It lies on the bank of the 松川 (Pine River).

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Ito City and Sagami Bay, Japan

Views over the city of Ito and Sagami Bay, on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Lucky gods in Ito City - Ebisu

There are small statues of Japan's seven lucky gods in many cities in Japan, including these in Ito on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture. This one is Ebisu (恵比寿), the god of prosperity and wealth in business, and of abundance in crops, cereals and food in general.

Lucky gods in Ito City - Bishamonten

There are small statues of Japan's seven lucky gods in many cities in Japan, including these in Ito on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture. This one is Bishamonten (毘沙門天), the god of fortune in war and battles, also associated with authority and dignity.

Lucky gods in Ito City - Benzaiten

There are small statues of Japan's seven lucky gods in many cities in Japan, including these in Ito on the Izu Penninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture. This one is Benzaiten (弁才天 or 弁財天). She is the only one of the lucky 7 gods who is female. Benzaiten possesses the attributes of talent, beauty and music , and is represented as a smart, beautiful woman. She is shown playing the biwa, a Japanese traditional lute-like instrument and is normally accompanied by a white snake. She is the patron of artists, writers, dancers, and geisha, among others

Local train, Ito, Japan

The interior of one of the local trains that run between Atami and Shimoda, up and down the east coast of the Izu Penninsula.

Sunrise, Ito, Japan

The sun rises over Sagami Bay at Ito, on the eastern shore of Japan's Izu Penninsula. With the main island of Japan sitting near the eastern edge of its time zone, the sun comes up very early in the summer - around 4:30 am.