A peaceful spring outing to Kannonzaki with my wife and our Shiba Inu, Momiji. If you're in need of a gentle breeze for your heart, this story might be the perfect break.
Drawn by the spring sunshine, we set out for Kannonzaki. Just a quiet day with the ocean, the sky, my wife, and our Shiba Inu, Momiji. Nothing dramatic — just something I wanted to put into words.
The first thing that greeted us was the scent of the sea. That briny aroma tickled my nose. "Isn’t this the smell of seaweed soup?" I thought—and suddenly I was hungry. I was reminded how comforting the smell of the ocean can be.
Momiji was excited from the very start—running across the sand, splashing along the shoreline, and fixating on a grasshopper in the brush. A guy passing by even mistook her for "Don-chan." It made us laugh, and now it’s just another fun memory.
We walked up to the lighthouse, but since dogs aren’t allowed, Momiji and I waited outside while my wife went in. She said the view from the top was amazing, though a bit scary—the floor slopes slightly outward at the top. Still, she was glad she went.
Around the lighthouse were old artillery ruins and forest paths. The air was filled with birdsong—uguisu singing “hohoke-kyo,” and many other chirps and calls mixing in the breeze.
On the shore, we spotted starfish, jellyfish, tiny shells, and ships passing in the distance. The view felt like something from the Mediterranean—though I’ve never actually been there, it felt like how I imagine it. Surrounded by the sea’s blue and the open sky, I felt free from everyday worries.
Seeing a couple sipping tea under a parasol gave off such a peaceful, heartwarming vibe.
My back gave me a bit of pain, but there were no bugs, the breeze was perfect, and Momiji was happy the entire time. Maybe spring really is the best season.
You don’t have to climb to the top—just feeling the breeze and looking up at the sky can be more than enough. If you can end the day thinking, “That was a good one,” then I think that’s all you really need.
That’s the kind of feeling I brought back from this spring day in Kannonzaki.
