Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Matsuyama, Ehime

The beach and harbor at Asanamihara

From: Shimanami Kaido: sea-bream rice and a salty breeze

The beach, the seawall and a small hill beyond the harbor
The beach, the seawall and a small hill beyond the harbor

A seaside village in the Asanami area of former Hojo City, at the northern tip of Matsuyama. Asanami village merged into Hojo town in 1955, and Hojo City became part of Matsuyama in 2005. Fishing boats moor in front of the houses, and a path along the seawall leads to a small sandy beach sheltered by tetrapods.

Sources: kotobank.jp

This moment in the journey

A beach a minute from the inn

I slid open the frosted-glass door and stepped out. Morning in Asanamihara, Ehime. Fishing boats floated in the harbor in front of the houses, and following the path along the seawall, I reached the beach a minute's walk from the inn.

A white skiff had been pulled up on the sand, and the calm waves of the Seto Inland Sea came and went around the tetrapods. I sat on the stone steps, opened the bamboo sheath, and bit into the sandwich. The sea breeze and the sound of the waves made the most comfortable background music. It felt almost like a private beach.

Watch this scene on YouTube1:05

Read this scene in the full journey

Opening the frosted-glass door to go outside
Opening the frosted-glass door to go outside
The harbor at Asanamihara, with houses and fishing boats
The harbor at Asanamihara, with houses and fishing boats
Walking along the seawall toward the beach
Walking along the seawall toward the beach
Walking on the beach with a tote bag
Walking on the beach with a tote bag
A white skiff pulled up on the beach
A white skiff pulled up on the beach
Gentle waves lapping at the tetrapods
Gentle waves lapping at the tetrapods
The mackerel sandwich in my hands, cross-section showing
The mackerel sandwich in my hands, cross-section showing
Sitting on the stone steps, looking out at the beach
Sitting on the stone steps, looking out at the beach