Even though I grew up in California, I was never much of a beach-goer. I’d occasionally take a trip with friends, but never felt the pull to go myself. Moving to a landlocked territory has turned my mind around on this, and a trip seemed more appealing. So a few weeks ago, we ventured to Oarai Sun Beach in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Immediately after getting out of the car, the familiar smell of the salt in the air and the unmistakable sound of the ocean waves were noticed. As oppose to the beaches I was used to, this one was far less crowded (the cloudy weather could have contributed to this). No matter the reason, it was a nice atmosphere to simply walk along the shore and look out into the ocean. In addition to not being crowded, the beach was also quite wide, offering ample space for people to play, barbecue, or simply relax.

Gazing at the stretching water, it occured to me that we were looking out at the same ocean we would have back home. A sense of familiarity coupled with longing washed over me. We walked there for some time.

As it reached closer to the afternoon, we decided that it was time to find some lunch. The path towards our destination took us through a small forest, a welcome addition to our walk.

Our original plan was to visit a local beach bar, but the information on Google Maps was not up to date. My phone claimed the place was open, but when we arrived, a sign with the word ‘CLOSED’ made it clear that they wouldn’t be serving guests at that time.

This turned out to be not such a terrible setback, as we ended up going to a nearby food stand instead. The stand, known simply as “Emy’s“, is advertised as serving ‘tex-mex’, and they have an assortment of different burgers and hotdogs, as well as fries.

Before talking more about the food, I have to point out our favorite thing about this place: When you walk up to the counter, this furry little guy is there to greet you.

After reviewing our options, I decided to try out a ‘Nacho Hot Dog’, while my fiancée went for a ‘Locomoco Burger’. We also decided to order some fries with barbecue seasoning. After our order was taken, we were handed a shell with a number to be called for when our order was ready.

While waiting for our order, we noticed the people around us seemed to know each other fairly well. They were likely regulars of the establishment, and brought a relaxed, casual atmosphere to place.

Though our main order would take some time, we did recieve our fries as a sort of appetizer. They were pretty good! The barbecue seasoning was present, but not too overpowering. Great for snacking on.

Once our order was ready, the first impressions did their job well. The ‘Nacho Hot Dog’ was topped with chili, jalapeños, and nacho cheese, all of which are not often seen in Japan (though very much welcome for me). The hot dog was full of flavor, and the toasted bun added a crunchy texture that complimented the chili. In short, it was good.

Finishing our lunch, we decided to have another stroll along the beach before heading back to the car. Since we don’t live close to the ocean, we wanted to take it in for as long as we could before heading back. When we did decide to leave, we could feel raindrops begin to fall down upon us. Luckily, we made it to the car in time before it became a downpour.

Before heading back home, however, we decided to check out a nearby outlet mall. Doing a bit of window shopping, we saw a building selling shaved ice and decided to give it a try. Known as ‘Mitsukura Hyouka‘, they serve a variety of shaved ice flavors, including several melon flavors. We decided to share a green melon shaved ice. When our order came, it was larger than I had expected, about the size of a head of cabbage. Sampling a bit, the ice was quite light and flaky, contrary to the denser variety I’ve received served in a cone. The melon flavor came through noticably, but not in an overpowering way. The combination of everything made for a refreshing dessert.

Having finished our ice, it was now time to officially head home, ending a day filled with good atmosphere and great food (and a puppy).