| One place sure to attract visitors is the picturesque Minokake-Iwa rock formation seen here, lying off the island of Honshu and its mountainous 31-mile-long Izu Peninsula | |
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| In Japan, mid-July brings an excuse to head to the beach | 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 kickoff to the hot summer season.
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