Unosu Cliffs A sip of Tanohata milk beyond the pines

I parked at Unosu Cliffs and set off along the trail through the pines. I put on my hat and smoothed the hem of my white dress. I'd driven along the coast today, but here, on the path to the lookout, I could smell the pines. The path felt soft and springy underfoot, which made walking all the more fun.

As I made my way between the trees, I heard birdsong. I wondered if the sea was just a little farther on. In my insulated bag was the milk I'd just picked up at Roadside Station Tanohata. I'd been saving it for a spot with a good view, and I was getting excited as I walked on.

At the lookout, the cliffs stretched away in layers. I could make out the shape of the nearest rocks, while the distant headlands were hazy. It felt like stepping straight out of the pines and into a wide-open view of the sea. I lingered for a while inside the fenced area at the lookout. I was so glad this view was waiting at the end of the walk.

Holding the little carton of milk in both hands, I took a sip through the straw. The cold hit first, then the milk's sweetness came through. With the sea breeze around me, I wanted to savour it more slowly than I would on an ordinary break. I looked out at the cliffs and took another sip. I wanted to remember this combination on the drive back.

I tucked the empty carton away and looked out at the coast through the pine branches. Ah, so Unosu gets its name from the Japanese cormorants nesting partway down the cliffs. Next time I look out at the coast, I'll remember how it got its name. As I walked back to the car, the sweetness of the milk and the vastness of the sea were still with me.