Driving to Shiroyama Park Observatory A view of Kagoshima's city lights at dusk in April

One April evening, as dusk settled, my friend and I headed for Shiroyama in Kagoshima City. After parking, we walked up to the lookout and found the city lights already on. We arrived before the sky had gone completely dark, so I could still make out Sakurajima across the bay.

Still in my pale purple spring coat, I slowly shifted my gaze from the city to the mountain. Past the bright buildings, Kinko Bay stretched toward Sakurajima on the far side. The view was different from daytime, but seeing the same mountain again made me feel a little more at ease.

I set the karukan I'd brought on a piece of white paper and admired its neat square shape before taking a bite. I loved how moist it was. It was nice to have a pause like this as I took in the view.

I told my friend, "This is a sweet made with Japanese yam and non-glutinous rice." I glanced at it in my hand once more, then looked back to Sakurajima. I alternated between admiring the view and taking a bite, and ended up staying longer than I'd planned.

There were trees around the observatory, and I looked up through their branches at the sky. Seeing the trees overhead made it feel like I was up on a mountain, rather than simply looking out at city lights. My friend and I lowered our voices a little and watched as evening turned to night.

Once I'd finished the karukan, I put the paper away and took one last look at the view before heading back. Even after we got back to the car, I knew I'd want to remember the city lights and Sakurajima together. I was glad to end the day's exploring at Shiroyama; it meant I could enjoy the view right into the night.