A drive to Lake Ikeda A winter midday stop for blue water and yellow flowers

At midday in January, my friend and I drove from Ibusuki to Lake Ikeda. When we reached IKEDAKO PAX, home to a café on the lakeshore, we parked and set off on foot. I slipped on my coat and walked toward the lake; yellow rapeseed flowers came into view along the way.

I held the collar of my coat lightly and took in the flowers nearby first. I loved seeing such bright flowers while dressed for winter. I said to my friend, “It’s January, but it feels like we’re getting an early glimpse of spring.”

I turned from the flowers toward the lake, where the midday light fell across the water. Mount Kaimon came into view beyond it, too. I let my eyes travel from the nearby flowers to the distant mountain, then paused when I spotted it.

When I looked up from the path, I could see our red car parked on higher ground. We’d driven here, but now we were taking our time beside the lake and flowers. Sharing the same view with my friend made me want to stay a little longer.

PAX has a café by the lake, making it a lovely place to stop for a break and enjoy the scenery. I’m also tempted by a meal of nagashi-sōmen at Tōsenkyō, another stop in Ibusuki. You can enjoy it year-round, so I’d like to add it to a winter trip here, too.

With my coat on, I took in rapeseed flowers, the lake, and Mount Kaimon beyond, all in one winter scene. Finding flowers on a winter trip made me so happy. I want to remember the view I shared with my friend even after we get home.