This article was originally published in Japanese on June 30, 2024, and has been translated into English.
There’s a unique landscape called “Fish Eye” along the coast of Kisarazu. This area, a fish-eye-shaped pond located in the mouth of the Obitsu River delta on the Banzu Tidal Flats, was once an experimental site constructed by Yahata Steelworks. The goal was to test whether seawater could be used as cooling water in their factories.
Wanting to see this unusual landscape firsthand, I attached the recently purchased GoPro Volta to my GoPro Hero 11 and set off.
First, I headed to Kisarazu Station and took the bus toward Mitsui Outlet Park, getting off at Dekuro Takasu Iriguchi. From the bus stop, I followed a path along the Obitsu River. However, there was only one spot where the river could actually be seen.
At the entrance to my destination, a fence and an information board were set up, and to the left of the fence, a narrow pedestrian entrance led into the path. From there, I continued along a trail surrounded by dense vegetation. Despite recent rain, the path was relatively easy to walk, with only a few puddles to navigate.
After a short while, I saw some concrete structures—remnants of an old water pumping station. I climbed up the railing on one of the structures, hoping to get a view of the Percolation Experiment Pond. However, thick overgrowth obscured almost everything.
Going further, I encountered a large puddle that seemed impassable, but there were stone steps nearby that allowed me to cross. On the other side, there appeared to be a trail leading toward the pond—or at least something that vaguely resembled one.
I attempted to push forward but had to give up soon after. The overgrown vegetation made progress nearly impossible, and I wasn’t confident I’d be able to return if I continued. With most of the path obscured, there was a real risk of stepping into unexpected puddles, so I decided to head back.
Lesson learned: do not come here in summer.
I also tried approaching from the beach, but there seemed to be no viable route to the Percolation Experiment Pond, so I turned back.
As I looked up at the Osprey flying through the clear blue sky, I found myself dreaming of a winter landscape.
