Imbari City to Konatsu, 25.1 km It was a longer day than the guide's version, but our overnight accommodation was a couple of kilometres off the route. On the plus side, we got to make our own, western style breakfast. No rice, fish, mystery pickled things or fermented mung beans in sight. Delicious! We meandered … Continue reading Shikoku day 39
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Shikoku day 38
Imbari City to Imbari City, 11.5 km Kukai at Temple 58. Hard to avoid having power lines in photos here in Japan. Almost a rest day, but we did the long day yesterday so they average out into two normal days if we'd been able to secure accommodation in the optimal locations. Tonight we are … Continue reading Shikoku day 38
Shikoku day 37
Matsuyama to Imbari City, 40.5 km That difficult 'L', but also sums up our accommodation challenges! For three consecutive nights we've been forced to adjust our plans as the usual pilgrim accommodations are unavailable - full in the big cities, and unavailable due to the festival in the smaller towns. Today is the second of … Continue reading Shikoku day 37
Shikoku day 36
Matsuyama to just outside of Matsuyama! 18.3 km Very picturesque Shinto temple, but our legs revolted at the sight of those steps, so this is as close as we got! A shorter day due to challenges finding accommodation in the next section. The listed places are invariably closed as there is a festival on this … Continue reading Shikoku day 36
Shikoku day 35
Kumakogen to Matsuyama, 30 km Scenic shot taken leaving Kumakogen as the fog was clearing It was a brisk, foggy morning leaving Kumakogen, but the sun burned through before I'd gone too far. With the help of the wonderful lady working at the Garden Hotel, the boys had a bus to catch so that Sam's … Continue reading Shikoku day 35
Shikoku special edition
Moths of the Kumakogen Familymart! The convenience stores are open 24 hours, and while we were enjoying our breakfast sitting on the bench outside, I realized that there were a number of moths and some bugs that had been lured by the lights. Vote for your favourite!
Shikoku day 34
Day trip to Temples 44 and 45, 23.8km Trail side shrine A beautiful but rather tough day due to elevation gains (980m up, and 980m back down!), but probably on the nicest trails yet, and in my mind, the most impressive temple. After breakfast sitting on the bench outside Familymart, it was paved roads to … Continue reading Shikoku day 34
Shikoku day 33
Oda to Kumakogen, 19.3 km Being pointed in the right direction A short day in terms of kilometres, but a hill got the heart rate going. The first section was a narrower, quite steep section of road, but with minimal traffic. We then took to the forest path that cut across the road switchbacks, where … Continue reading Shikoku day 33
Shikoku day 32
Ozu to Oda, 31.4 km Our only view of Ozu castle as we departed in the pouring rain It was a long slog out of Ozu this morning in the rain. The city seems to extend forever up the valley (not dissimilar to Seiyo yesterday). As we'd stayed in the historic old town, this morning … Continue reading Shikoku day 32
Shikoku day 31
Seiyo to Ozu, 26 km Given that it is the rainy season, I guess we can consider ourselves fortunate that we had 19 days without getting wet. Today was not one of them, and although it started out as drizzle which AccuWeather promised would end in 13 minutes, it became progressively wetter as the day … Continue reading Shikoku day 31
