Following Directions

I found an interesting thread online the other day and decided to try to find the area it was referencing:

"Out in Chiba, between the stations of Ohara and Onjuku, there is a small station called Namihana.

Go from the station towards the ocean....it is perhaps about a three kilometer walk.

You will reach a small fishing village.

Turn right on the road and head up the hill. You will start to see a nice beach but continue up the hill along the road.

After you pass a decent sized pond on your left, you will reach a small driveway into a field on your left.

Walk down this " path" and you will come to a dilapidated fence. Not going through the gate but instead following the footpath beginning at the left of the gate, you will soon start to head through what can be best described as jungle.

You will soon come into a clearing, but continue along the path until you come to an entrance to a cave. It may look like there is a dead end, but it is a tunnel. As you enter, be prepared for a rather steep walk down and watch out for slippery rocks.

Just as it starts to get dark behind you, you will be able to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Do NOT attempt to run!! One meter beyond the exit will give you a 30 meter drop onto the rocks below. Instead, from the exit, you will find a goat path that will take you down the side of the mountain to the beach below.

Now, as Ohara and Onjuku produce some of the most crowded beaches in Japan during the summer, this particular beach is empty even during Obon. If there is anyone there, it is most likely a nude sunbather.

The place is Tokyo' s best secret beach if not Japan' s.

Be careful about the incoming tide as it tends to block the entrance to the tunnel once it has come in. Overnight camping is NOT a good idea and the water can be a bit rough for the best of swimmers. But if you are looking for a little adventure in navigation and would like a nice secluded place during the peak of the summer holiday season, this is as good a place as any."

Either the description was vague or my ability to follow directions is lacking. Keep in mind this station (Namihana) was quite far from the ocean, with a good amount of mountains between. Nevertheless, I set out to find this supposed picturesque and secluded setting for a day at the beach.

My travels that day took me in multiple directions out of Namihana. The coastline of Japan has many inlets and outlets which means the ocean can really be in multiple directions. So while I headed in the most logical direction to begin with, this was incorrect. After about an hour, I thought I was on the right path and started heading through miles of rice paddies (three kilometers...ha).

I continued down this road for about an hour and eventually saw the ocean. Unfortunately, there was no fishing village. I was at the point where I really just wanted to see some sign of civilization. The beaces at this point were beautiful and completely unoccupied (the picture at the top and the one below are from my walk here).

Finally, after I continued, I came to a small fishing village. It occurred to me that I had come into the area in the opposite direction. So... I turned around. I headed back up the road. Past the 'nice beach' described in the thread, the 'good sized pond' and down the path. He failed to mention that the jungle would also eat any footwear you choose to bring along that day (it was basically a mud pit), and into the cave. Those of you who know me well know that I love doing things like this.

Emerging from the cave, the view was breathtaking. It was have been better due to what I had gone through to get there. Unfortunately, the thread did not lie, there were five or six individuals taking advantage of the seclusion. Also unfortunate, by the time I had found it the sun was almost past the cliff and I had pretty much missed any good opportunities to relax on the beach.

It was still worth it.

On my way back to the fishing village (yes, I chose to take the correct way back, which was much faster), I came across a unique rock formation out in the ocean. This small fishing village was unlike any other place I'd ever been in Japan. Altogether secluded yet very western at the same time. While I was walking I saw four or five westerners and many western style homes.