Sakiyama Observatory A Morning Looking Out over Nojima, Straw Hat Held to My Chest

I drove the Rias Scenic Line from Kirikiri toward Akahama and stopped at Sakiyama Observatory. After driving through the forest, I stepped out of the car to find the summer morning sea opening up before me. The breeze flowed through my white dress with its thin straps, and the heat I’d felt in the car a moment ago seemed to fade.

The first thing to catch my eye beyond the railing was Nojima, just below it. Pines clustered on its white rock, and though I meant to take in the whole bay, I kept looking over there. “That island’s packed with pines,” I said to my driving friend. My friend was pointing at the very same spot.

A gust ruffled the hem of my skirt. I took off my straw hat and held it gently against my chest. Keeping a hand on the brim had me looking a little downward; now that I was holding my hat against my chest, I could let my gaze wander from Nojima’s pines all the way to the distant headlands.

I watched the shore stretching beyond Funakoshi Bay, and it wasn’t just the sea that caught my attention; I was fascinated by the land reaching out into it, too. I looked for the white streaks of waves rolling in, only to find my eyes returning to Nojima’s rocky face. I love when a vast view has some small detail that keeps drawing me back.

After my friend took a photo of me, we talked about where to stop for lunch. I’d heard that Natural Kitchen Ririya in Kirikiri serves seafood bowls made with seasonal seafood. After looking out at the island, I wanted something from the sea for lunch, too, and a seafood bowl was already winning me over.

Before heading back to the car, I went to the railing one more time. With the wide bay behind it, Nojima left me wanting to remember every detail, even the way its pines looked up close. If you’re driving along the coast, try making time for a pause like this at a lookout in the morning.