Return to Ryozenji (Temple 1) Henro hut for one The original plan was to walk from T88 back to Temple 10, then take transit back to Temple 1. There are various schools of thought as to when the pilgrimage ends: some say it is the last temple, some that you need to return to the … Continue reading Shikoku day 50
Shido to Okuboji (Temple 88) 21.4 km Supposedly used pilgrims' walking sticks collected at T88, but very few show any sign of being held by a sweaty hand! Not a long day, but certainly challenging towards the end, with a major climb up, then back down to reach the temple. We started in Shido, visiting … Continue reading Shikoku day 49
These have been collected over the past 49 days. Not all to the same scale!
Ichinomiyacho to Shido, 27.4 km River scene: coexisting (but not eco-existing) The walk this morning was, for the first part, about what you'd expect when you need to traverse a major city. Max wasn't feeling well so opted to start the day a bit later, and visited the Ritsurin gardens with Susan, before catching up … Continue reading Shikoku day 48
Kokubu to Ichinomiyacho (suburb of Takamatsu), 26.9 km Fukurokuju - one of the seven lucky Japanese gods, and guardian deity of those born in the year of the boar (that would be me 😁) The day started rather frantically when we realized there were no food supply options for the entire day, so we made … Continue reading Shikoku day 47
Zentsuji to Kokubu, 27.6 km Marugame Castle Correctly anticipating that the first two temples would be less than inspiring, Susan took the train to meet us at Temple 78, while we trekked down and across Marugame City. Konzoji (Temple 76) was very close to our accommodation - a rather fancy (by our pilgrim standards) house … Continue reading Shikoku day 46
Kanonji City to Zentsuji, 25.6 km New recruit! Susan arrived last night after the whole planes, trains and automobiles routine to get from Vancouver to near Temple 70. Several trains actually, so the Japan travel app was worth the cost - even though it's actually free! Between writing yesterday's post and collecting Susan from the … Continue reading Shikoku day 45
Kanonji to Motoyama, 15.5km Zenigata Sunae - a giant sand sculpture of an Edo period coin, first created 389 years ago to honour the visit of Lord Muragame. It has a circumference of 345m (the coin, not the lord!) A short day due to previous days being distinctly unshort. The walk from our lodging to … Continue reading Shikoku day 44
Shikokuchui to Kanonji, 25.1 km Today it was a Grand Old Duke of York kind of day: we marched to the top of the hill and then we marched down again - although Sam and Max took the cable car down which turned out to be a smart move as the downhill was tough! We … Continue reading Shikoku day 43
Goyomatsuso to Shikokuchui, 29.6km The first 20 kilometres was a tiring traipse through endless suburbs of the Japanese variety - each village seemed to merge into the next one. The monotony was broken by the periodic appearance of a float on the road, which at times prevented any further progress while they manoeuvred their wagons … Continue reading Shikoku day 42
