Drive Koikana Road (National Route 213) From Showa Town to the sea, with a view to linger over after sunset

On a winter afternoon, my friend and I stopped in Showa Town before heading for Koikana Road. At Niku no Kanaoka, I picked up a Wagyu croquette burger to take away. It’s sold until 5 pm, so I made that our stop before going to the coast.

As I drove National Route 213, I kept my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel while I told my friend, “Let’s stop at Matama Coast this evening.” I’d made sure to bring a down jacket and scarf, since I wanted to linger by the sea after we got out of the car. When we arrived, a wide stretch of tidal flats opened up before us.

The channels winding between the tidal flats reflected the light from the sky. I snugged my pink scarf around my neck and looked out to sea. Even after the sun disappeared, I couldn’t take my eyes off the light still on the water.

I lowered the wrapper a little and took a bite of the croquette burger. While I chewed, my friend waited for my reply as I took in the view before me. I was glad I’d brought this snack; I loved the croquette and bread together in one bite.

At Matama Coast, the tidal flats’ stripes appear when low tide and sunset coincide. I’d come to see that scene, but I found I loved the shapes of the channels, too. Once I’d finished eating and had both hands free, my friend and I kept watching the sea for just a little longer.

By the time we got back to the car, my friend and I were already talking about visiting another stop along Koikana Road next time. From Showa Town to Cape Nagasakibana, the route is about 20 km. I’d love to enjoy another day of watching the sunset along the way, with a song about the sea for company.