Morning Steps and Stillness
Our day kicked off in proper Japanese style with 200 steps straight up to a temple perched quietly above the coast.
The climb was real, the Georgia nearly counted every single step (with varying accuracy), and at the top we found stone lanterns, worn paths, and sweeping views of the sea waiting to be part of our afternoon. Dotty explored every crack in the paving. Georgia had a meltdown. And I stood for a second, breathing in the stillness you only get from above the trees.
We followed it up with a wander through the park next door, letting the kids burn off their breakfast before heading back down to sea level and into the real fun.
Afternoon Gold, Hikari Beach
By the time we hit Hikari Beach, the sun was high, the sand was warm, and the tide had just the right mood.
Armed with buckets, a shuttlecock we found, and a bit of curiosity, we began our beachcomber’s dream afternoon.
We weren’t just looking for shells we were on the hunt for stories hidden in stone.
Rock Stars of the Day, We Found!
A quartz-veined basalt split by tectonic force and healed by time. A chunk of pumice shaped like a lava popsicle now known as The Volcano Fang. Scoria, tuff, shale, and a few mystery pieces Georgia swore looked like whales, toast, and one she just called “Susan.” Dotty, meanwhile, filled her bucket with whatever felt good. Which is exactly the right method.
The Queen of Hikari Beach
Ali scored the throne of the day a weathered plastic chair half buried in the sand. She sat in style, handing out snacks and moral support while the girls built empires of sand and stone around her.
I will now refer to her as “The Chairwoman.”
Our Seaside Museum
Back at the house, Georgia laid out our finds like archaeologists.
Sea glass in every shade of blue and green Porcelain shards, with intricate patterns possibly Edo-era leftovers or just well loved crockery from decades gone by A whole shell and coral display, arranged by size.
What began as a bucketful of bits had become a miniature museum of memory and time.
And Then… This
The sky turned a soft orange bruise over the water, and the silhouette of those volcanic hills watched over us again.
“We came looking for rocks.
We found time, silence, and the kind of joy that only happens when you slow the hell down.”
Trip Stats
200 temple steps 1 plastic chair throne 3 buckets full of rocks, glass, and shell 6 confirmed belly laughs 1 perfect sunset 1 Tantrum
Hikari Beach, you weren’t on our list.
But you’ve made it into our hearts and our pockets, one rock at a time.
Tomorrow we leave and we will be sad to leave it behind..
