Cape Tsumeki, Shimoda

10 June 2026
View on map
Cape Tsumeki, Shimoda

Near the town of Shimoda in Izu is Cape Tsumeki, a picturesque lookout with a lighthouse. It’s particularly famous when its daffodil fields bloom in winter - so we came in a bit of its off-season, but it was still beautiful nonetheless.

The main parking lot for the cape is paid, so we chose to use the free parking lot a bit further up the road. It’s a bit more of a walk, but there’s an opportunity also to enjoy an extra walking trail along the coast.

Coastal walking path toward Tsumekizaki Lighthouse visible in the distance, with rocky shoreline under a blue sky

There were plenty of birds about - and the first we spotted was a meadow bunting singing its heart out on top of a tree.

Meadow bunting perched atop a leafy tree, beak open mid-song against a clear blue sky
Meadow bunting perched on top of a leafy tree looking forward against a clear blue sky

It almost looks like a sparrow and is supposed to be quite common, so I’m surprised I’ve never seen one before.

Wide view of Cape Tsumeki bay with the white lighthouse on the green headland and a small beach below
Rocky coastal cove with clear turquoise water, green headlands and mountains visible in the background
Tabby cat lying flat on the ground against a pale blue corrugated wall

The cape also has a small greenhouse.

Large glass greenhouse surrounded by colorful flower gardens under a blue sky
Red tropical bromeliad flower spike with green buds in a lush greenhouse interior

And of course, the Tsumekizaki Lighthouse built in 1937.

Tsumekizaki Lighthouse standing on a clifftop with wispy clouds and blue sky behind it
Small rocky islet rising from the deep blue ocean with wispy clouds above
Sandy crescent beach at Cape Tsumeki with calm turquoise water and rocky outcrops

And we got yet another new bird sighting on this trip (our fifth!) I had assumed this one was just a black-backed wagtail - they always like to shake their tail and I often spot them in Tokyo. As it turns out, it is a wagtail, but instead it’s the Japanese wagtail.

Japanese wagtail walking through dry grass in an open field
Japanese wagtail standing on short grass with dry reeds in the background
A large red fish sculpture serving as a garbage bin outside a roadside building
The fish is actually a garbage bin

And some final birds to round out this post.

Swallow perched on a power line against a blue sky
A swallow
Meadow bunting singing with beak open while perched on a thick cable
Another meadow bunting, about to assault us with its song.

And this one with its back turned, I thought it might be something cool - but once I saw its Pikachu cheeks I knew it was a brown-eared-bulbul.

Dark-plumaged bird perched on the side of a rusted utility pole beside a conifer tree
Dark-plumaged bird clinging to a rusted utility pole against a clear blue sky

Leave a comment