Speaking of the scenic spots of my hometown Miwasaki, I recommend the following 3 spots.

1. Two small islands, Suzushima and Kushima, connected by caisson bridge
2. Koyazaka Slope among Kumano Kodo (Kumano Ancient Roads)
3. Observation deck on the way of Koyazaka Slope viewing Kumano Nada Sea of Pacific Ocean

It could be a tiny fishing village sandwiched between the mountains and the Kumano Nada. But it's worth something.
That's why I set up a square called "Nanki Kumano" on this website "Viva, Seniors!" (中高年の元気！）and express my feelings.

This time, our couple's main purpose is to visit my ancestral tomb and to talk with my younger brother and his wife, so it is an extra profit to stop by the scenic spots during the time. In fact, the places we set foot on were only Suzushima Islet and Kuroshio Park on the shore. I am going to write about these two.

Thursday, November 24

Suzushima Islet

Suzushima is immediately contiguous from the building of the Miwasaki fishery cooperative on the shore. There are dozens of fishing boats moored around the wharf. Fishing seems to be thriving now, too.

Sizushima, in front

Kushima Islet, beyond

A little past 9:00 a.m., the Kumano Nada Sea around Suzushima is calm. The splashing of waves on the reef is also docile.

During my elementary school days, the sandy beach around here was our playground and the sea was a swimming place. After a long time, nevertheless, the view is familiar to me. The rocky area, the waves, and the distant mountain range..., the sea view of Miwasaki is picturesque.

The islet takes less than 10 minutes to complete the circuit. On the way, this shrine hidden in the shade of bushes and rocks. The monument at the entrance reads, "Shrine Construction Commemorated" (Kushima Shintayu, 1977).

Kushima Islet seen from the rock hole of Suzushima. It's a photo spot of my pride.

Though feeling like to go on west to Kushima Islet connected from Suzushima Islet by a caisson bridge, I gave it up worrying about the time.

The other photos I took on Suzushima are in the following link.

Suzushima and vicinity, other photos

Kuroshio Park

Along the Kumano Nada Sea, there is a landscape park staddling Miwasaki and Sano to the west, called Kuroshio Park.

The park is a children's playground, a resting place for elderlies, a green promenade with a sea breeze and trees. My mother used to walk here every sunny day.
Among them, what pleases me is several waka-poem monuments. They are the poems about my hometown in the familiar ancient waka-poem collections of "Manyoshu" (late Nara Period, 700s) and "Shin-Kokinwakashu" (late Heian Period, 1201-16).
This time, I can only see the following three monuments here. Why?

苦しくもふりくる雨か神が崎 狹野のわたりに家もあらなくに

神の崎ありそもみえず浪たちぬ いづくゆゆかむよき道はなしに

三輪が崎夕汐させばむら千鳥 佐野のわたりに声うつるなり

Since I did not walk on the Sano side, I understood I could not see the monument of the famous poem by Fujiwara-no-Teika. Overlooked others?

Here is the list of the waka-poems in the other column of my homepage.

The fountain was still blowing up intermittently, as before.

I called out to an elderly woman busy cleaning up in the park.
She said.
"You are Shigeru-chan of Koshiba family, the son of Kumano-san. Your mother used to manage a liquor store. Very kind. I remember her quite well because she took intimate care of us. You, two brothers, were good at studies. Minoru-san was a Ward head until just before. His wife is teaching studies to children. All of us thank them."

She speaks with a big smile. My wife listens intently to the strong dialect conversation. How happy I am to meet a nice lady.