Category: 88 Buddhist Temples

Short and Long – April 8, 2019

  • Monday April 8, 2019, Day 26
  • Temples: #56, #57, #58, #59, #61, and #62
  • Imabari City, Japan
  • Weather: 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Miles 34.2 miles (walk, train & car) / Total Miles 487

Short sighted and long sighted. When making reservation, you have to anticipate the following two night’s reservations. Make sure the distance between accommodations and the difficulty of the route are manageable. After all, you don’t want to arrive at your distance without a futon.

A staff member from Cyclo no le spent hours working with me counting kilometers, reviewing elevation plans, pinpointing accommodations, locating train stations, and making reservations through Temple #88. Having done this, his comment was, “I feel as though I actually walked 88 Temples.” What a generous and deeply appreciated act of kindness.

  1. Cyclo no le
  2. Cyclo no le
  3. Cyclo no le

Goodbye and Hello – April 7, 2019

  • Sunday, April 7, 2019, Day 25
  • Temples: #52, #53, #54 and #55
  • Imabari City, Japan
  • Weather: 50-60 hazy
  • Miles 34.7 miles (tram, 2 trains, walk) /Total Miles 452.8

Christine and I take our last selfie before she disembarks the train. A final goodbye. As her stay in Shikoku is two months, she has the luxury of walking by the sea. I must continue on “rapid” transit as my stay is less than six weeks.

At Temple #54, a surprising hello from Ishihara S. whom I met March 31 at Temple #40. He doesn’t walk, he charges never riding buses or trains. Hard core!

  1. Christine and Linda
  2. Christine
  3. O-henro, Ishihara S.

Temple Benches – April 7, 2019

  • Sunday, April 7, 2019, Day 25
  • Temples: #52, #53, #54 and #55
  • Imabari City, Japan
  • Weather: 45-55 hazy
  • Miles 34.7 miles (tram, 2 trains, walk) /Total Miles 452.8

There’s always welcoming benches at the temples. As a habit, I pick a bench close to the Temple Office to leave my backpack while making the temple rounds. With somewhat similar temples, it’s all too easy to forget where you set your backpack. O-henros never sit long before pulling out the infamous Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide...always plotting.

  1. Temple #53
  2. Temple #53
  3. Christine planning her next segment

Tram – April 7, 2019

  • Sunday, April 7, 2019, Day 25
  • Temples: #52, #53, #54 and #55
  • Imabari City, Japan
  • Weather: 45-55 hazy
  • Miles 34.7 miles (tram, 2 trains, walk) / Total Miles 452.8

Matsuyama is one of the four largest urban cities on the 88 Temple Route. Christina and I took advantage of its tram line rather navigate on foot with the turns and twist of a city.

  1. Christine and Linda at the Matsuyama – Dogomachi Tram Station
  2. Tram
  3. On a tram, Christine and Linda celebrating our last morning

Tempura – April 6, 2019

  • Saturday, April 6, 2019, Day 24
  • Temples: #50 and #51
  • Matsuyama City, Japan
  • Weather: 40-55 Overcast
  • Miles 30 miles (walk, truck, chair lift, rope line) / Total Miles 478.1

Criterion for dinner was good food and western style sitting as Christine couldn’t sit Japanese fashion comfortable. We sat at the bar and watch the cook do amazing work. It was an unforgettable meal of Tempura Shrimp. I wish I would’ve ordered the octopus too.

  1. Dinner at the bar
  2. Dinner by our chef
  3. Dinner Shrimp Tempura
  4. Dinner, a missed opportunity for octopus

Happening Place – April 6, 2019

  • Saturday, April 6, 2019, Day 24
  • Temples: #50 and #51 Matsuyama City, Japan
  • Weather: 40-55 Overcast
  • Miles 30 miles (walk, truck, chair lift, rope line) / Total Miles 478.1

Matsuyama Castle was a happening place for the locals and tourists. Performances and picnics under the cherry blossoms.

  1. Performer
  2. Umbrellas
  3. Performer
  4. Picnic under the Cherry Blossoms