Kokubu to Ichinomiyacho (suburb of Takamatsu), 26.9 km
The day started rather frantically when we realized there were no food supply options for the entire day, so we made a detour to Lawson’s to stock up on onigiri, then on the way back to the hotel to collect our packs, had breakfast at Maccas. Temple 80, Sanuki Kokubunji was a pleasant start, primarily as we were there before any other pilgrims or others arrived for prayers.
Even though it was projected to be a challenging day, Susan joined us for a rather brutal hike up the hill to Shiromineji, Temple 81. At least it was a path in the woods, and the cloud cover kept the temperature manageable (but the humidity had us sweating buckets!) Like many temples at elevation, the grounds were amazing with maximum use made of the steep hillside location.
Fortunately for all of us, it was slightly down hill to Temple 82, Negotoji, another temple that made great use of its geographic location, with an old but impressive stone staircase from the temple gates up to the buildings of the actual temple.
More descent through forest trails took us back to the valley floor, where we toughed it out across some uninspiring side roads until we reached a new cycle path along the river, which was very welcome for tired legs and feet as we hustled to make Temple 83 before closing. Ichinomiyaji is a modest temple beside a much more imposing Shinto temple -so much so that many pilgrims, us included, wander around the Shinto complex in confusion until a kindly person gives you a map explaining how to get to the Buddhist temple!
After such a challenging day – particularly for Susan who is fresh iff the plane – a trip to the local onsen before dinner at the ryokan was a pleasurable way to round out the day.
