A summer morning, driving alongside the sea 17.2 km on Naminori Road, plus Kujukuri sardine dishes

One July morning, I headed for the Kujukuri Toll Road with the top down. As soon as I turned onto Naminori Road, the white lane markings stretched away into the distance. When I’m heading for the sea, I want the drive itself to be part of the plan, not just the time it takes to get there.

The road follows the coast, with open sky stretching ahead. I held the wheel with both hands and followed the road, feeling the breeze change against my shoulders. In the open-top car, the world outside felt closer than usual. I was glad I’d put the top down.

The road runs right beside the sea, but driving past it isn’t the same as stopping to watch the waves. I kept my eyes on the road and saved a proper look at the sea for when I stopped. Just tracing the road as it stretched into the distance made me feel how long the coastline was. The drive to my next stop had become part of the day’s fun.

When I parked at Ichinomiya Rest Area, the quiet felt so different after being on the road. I tucked my hair behind my ear and took a sip of my drink. As I let go of the wheel and stretched my shoulders, I could still feel the breeze from the drive. I opened my map and started thinking about my next detour: which stretch of shore should I head for from here?

I wanted to try a sardine dish for lunch in Kujukuri. Before I set out, I couldn’t decide between namero and sardine dumpling soup, though a hot bowl of soup sounded tempting. As I got back in the car and headed toward the coast again, I found myself thinking about the drive that morning. I love a trip where getting there is part of the pleasure.