伊豆半岛海岸附近的 Minokake-Iwa 奇岩群，日本 The Minokake-Iwa rocks off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, Japan (© Krzysztof Baranowski/Getty Images)

伊豆半岛海岸附近的 Minokake-Iwa 奇岩群，日本 The Minokake-Iwa rocks off the coast of the Izu Peninsula, Japan (© Krzysztof Baranowski/Getty Images)

Singing praises of the oceans

In Japan, mid-July brings an excuse to head to the beach, as if we really needed one. That's because this time of year marks Marine Day (aka Ocean Day), an observance recognizing the close bond the island nation shares with the seas and ocean that surround it. Because Marine Day roughly coincides with the end of the rainy season, it has, over the years, become a sort of unofficial kick off to the hot summer season. One place sure to attract visitors is the picturesque Minokake-Iwa rock formation seen here, lying off the coast of Honshū's mountainous 31-mile-long Izu Peninsula.

Ordinarily Marine Day is observed on the third Monday in July, but this year the holiday was moved to immediately precede the start of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. So, this is the day to hit the beach in Japan, just before the Olympics' opening ceremonies begin tomorrow.

歌颂海洋

在日本，七月中旬给我们带来了一个去海滩的借口，好像我们真的需要一个。这是因为每年的这个时候都是海洋日（又名海洋日），这是一个认可岛国与周围海洋紧密联系的节日。由于海洋日大致与雨季的结束相吻合，多年来，它已成为炎热夏季的一种非正式开端。一个肯定会吸引游客的地方是这里风景如画的Minokake Iwa岩层，位于本什岛31英里长的伊豆半岛的海岸线附近。

通常海洋日是在七月的第三个星期一，但是今年这个节日被转移到了东京夏季奥运会开始之前。所以，今天是去日本海滩的日子，就在明天奥运会开幕式开始之前。