Exploring Kanjoji Park Rice paddies filled with water and masu sushi for lunch

One May afternoon, I drove through Inami and up to Kanjoji Park. I parked my red car in the car park at the top of the slope and turned off the engine. When I opened the door, the Tonami Plain stretched out before me all the way to the distant mountains. I was happy to find a view like this just by stepping out of the car.

Past the white parking lines was a stone border and a strip of earth. Beyond them, the rice paddies stretched out, filled with water. Their square surfaces reflected the sky, with homes and clusters of trees dotted here and there. I looked closer at one clump of trees I'd thought was a little grove and spotted a house tucked among them.

I heard the groves around the houses are called kainyo, and that they help protect the homes from wind and snow. I looked over those clusters of trees again. People still live in those houses scattered across the plain. Once I realized that, it became fun to pick out each one.

For lunch, I had the masu sushi I'd packed before setting out. I opened the bamboo-leaf wrapping beside the car, revealing rice topped with a thin slice of pale pink trout. As I brought a piece to my mouth, the tang of the vinegared rice spread across my tongue. Masu sushi with a view over the rice paddies—I was so glad I brought it.

After lunch, I tidied away the wrapping and took a short walk around the park. Out on the wide lawn, the breeze found its way through the sleeves of my cardigan, and it felt cooler than it had inside the car. A moment to look out across the plain, a few steps to stretch my legs. I loved having both on a lunch break during a long drive.

Next, I want to explore Inami on foot. The town centre is about 5 minutes away from the park by car, so I can be back down among the same homes and fields in no time. Before getting in the car, I looked once more at the rice paddies filled with water. I bet I'll want to stop at this car park for a break the next time I drive this way.