Ogama-Hanzo (Oreishi Rock) After looking closely at the rocks, I turned my eyes back to the sea

I drove across the Karakuwa Peninsula in summer to see Oreishi at Ogama. I wore a white tank top and khaki bottoms, with a small pair of binoculars in my hand. As I walked toward the sea, the sound of the waves grew closer. In person, the slender rock seemed to stretch higher into the sky than it had in the photos.

Through the binoculars, I could make out the rock’s vertical grooves and a crack halfway up. After looking for a while, I lowered them to my chest, and the sea around the rock opened up all at once. I love looking at details up close, but I’m just as drawn to the view when I take in the whole scene again.

Waves struck the rocks below Oreishi, sending up white spray. With each surge and retreat, the water around the nearby low rocks changed shape. My friend and I were chatting, but whenever a wave came in, we both turned to watch. I loved listening to the surf and waiting for the next one.

They say a tsunami in the 29th year of the Meiji era broke off Oreishi’s tip, giving the rock its name. Before that, it was called “Tenchū-iwa.” Once I knew the story behind its name, I found myself looking up. I wanted to make out the shape at the top, not just see a long, slender rock.

With my binoculars still in hand, I talked with my friend about where to stop for lunch. Apparently, Ogama Table at Hanzo Rest House serves a sauced udon dish made with noodles made with mulberry tea from Karakuwa. It sounds good to take a break over local noodles after a walk by the sea. Just hearing the name has me wondering what it tastes like.

Without using my binoculars, I and spent a while taking in Oreishi and the sea. A low rock sat beside the slender pillar, and waves washed around the base of the smaller rock. On a summer day in Karakuwa, take time to look at the rocks, wait for the waves, and enjoy a detour for local food, too.