This past weekend was amazing. It is the first time in a year or more that we have gone swimming, and the first time swimming in the ocean in over a decade! Plus, it was the first time someone actually traveled to see us in the almost 5 years we’ve been in Japan.
I understand, now, why everyone recommends this as one of the best beaches in Kyushu.
The sand was black. Not as black as some I’ve seen, but pretty darn close.
But what was even more amazing than the black sand was the fact that there were no rocks anywhere. Just all soft sand, and the occasional shell and crab. You could dig down at least a handspan (I know because that’s about how deep I dug for the heck of it) and find nothing but beach. The sand also goes out for a fair distance, so you slowly go deeper, which made it safe for the kids to swim, too, since it wasn’t hard to stay shallow enough for them.
The drive there is about 35 minutes from our house, give or take a few. And you go through 15 tunnels, because Saiki is apparently the city of tunnels. Once you get off the expressway, you meander through a tiny Japanese town that feels like every little inaka town you’ve ever been in.
You pull onto a one lane road over a one lane bridge, and after that, you find a palm-tree filled park!
There’s a small changing area and restroom, and then a few of these covered areas where you can sit and eat. When we first arrived, there were a few people there, in full clothing, because apparently it was cold. The Japanese people around must have thought we were insane to be swimming in May (and, as I learned, it’s technically illegal to swim before June in Japan? How weird is that?).
So, we made a bolt for the lake, with Rachel’s beach goods in tow (a pop up tent, boogie boards, floaty rings, and drinks!).
Then, after a fun filled afternoon at the beach, we went for sushi. Saiki is famous for it’s “long sushi,” where the rice is the same amount, but the fish is cut into long strips. We decided to go to the famous sushi shop near the fishmarket, and it did not disappoint!
However, there was a lot of wasabi on them, and while I didn’t mind (I adore it, and cake it on when I do it myself), Amy had perhaps a bit too much of it hit her wrong – you know that wasabi burn, I know you do!
All in all, one of the best Sunday afternoons I’ve ever had! Hope you enjoyed this little blog post, and here’s hoping we head back there soon (and you should come and join us!)