Anna is ready for another adventure. She has her adventure boots on.

This is Brian and Mika’s house (on the left). Mika’s parents live next door.

The grandparents. Mika’s parents are Noriko and Hiromi.

Brian’s boss gave us a 2-night stay at a seaside resort, so we stopped to say “Thank you.”

Then we drove past the rice harvest…

…past the riverside fishermen…

…through mountainside villages…

…until we reached Joren Falls.

Cane poles for fishing.

A place to cook the catch. Or, on second thought, that looks more like wasabi than fish.

Wasabi mustard needs cold mountain water to grow, and here is where it grows.

The thunderous Joren Falls.

The way to our destination continued on beyond the mountains.

…through mountain tunnels… (20 tunnels in all)

…past school buses offloading children…

…past mysterious mountain pathways…

…to Shimoda, port of the Black Ships.

Our journey had taken us from the top of the Izu peninsula, Izunokuni (top arrow), through the mountains to Shimoda (bottom arrow) on the coast.

Our home away from home for two days.

First view of our room – traditional Japanese features.

The rest of the room, basic hotel features, including ocean view.

After a nice dinner, a nice family portrait.

As the sun rose the next morning, the surfers were already catching waves.

We went for a walk on the beach.

And watched the surfers.

Then we caught the bus to the Shimoda aquarium.

We were greeted by friendly turtles.

The seal show was mesmerizing.

The sign says, “Welcome to Shimoda.”

The dolphin show got interesting when they asked for a volunteer from the audience.

“Anna, meet Flipper.”

“Good show!”

Back into Shimoda to learn about the Black Ships of Commodore Matthew Perry.

Ryōsen-ji Buddhist temple was the scene of an important treaty signing when the U.S. and Japan opened relations in the 1850s, and was the home of Commodore Matthew Perry during his visit.

We took a walk down Perry Street.

The cross hatch design and tile roof indicate a traditional Japanese house, built on a bamboo framework, that Perry would have recognized.

Men of Shimoda.

Remembering Matthew Perry.

Glad that there had been no tsunamis during our visit, we reluctantly left Shimoda.

Back up the mountain, and the corkscrew bridge at the steep part.

Near Joren Falls, the Patissery (authentic French bakery). Yum.

Final stop, stocking up at the Dollar Store.