Category: 88 Buddhist Temples

So Special – April 4, 2019

  • Thursday, April 4, 2019, Day 22
  • Temples: #44 and #45
  • Kuma-kōgen, Japan
  • Weather: 35-55 COLD MORNING Blue skies
  • Miles 17.1 (walk, train and bus) / Total Miles 400.1

Parisian Christine C. and I met our first day walking the Camino Santiago in France. We became dear friends. Today our 88 Buddhist Temples pilgrimage crossed paths. It was an out-and-back route. I was walking towards Temple #45 and Christine was walking from Temple #45. There we stood in a Japanese forest face-to-face. She traveled east half-way around the world while I traveled west-halfway around the world. Amazing how it all came together at this one moment. We had been emailing each other so we knew our itineraries were getting awfully close. Our reunion was as though no time had passed since we last met. A day to cherish.

  1. Linda to and Christine from Temple #45
  2. 2014 Photo of Mimi V., Joanna L., Linda, and Christine on the Camino.
  3. Christine from Temple #45. A look of complete joy

Driving – April 4, 2019

  • Thursday, April 4, 2019, Day 22
  • Temples: #44 and #45
  • Kuma-kōgen, Japan
  • Weather: 35-55 Blue skies COLD MORNING
  • Miles 17.1 (walk, train and bus)/ Total Miles 400.1

Leave the driving to us. Today I road through one of the countless Shikoku tunnels on a municipal bus. Much better than walking through the tunnels. Like many service positions, bus drivers wear immaculate white gloves.

  1. Approaching tunnel. Notice all the mountains in the background. Hence the need for tunnels.
  2. In Tunnel. Imagine me walking to the left of the solid white line.
  3. Bus Driver

First – April 3, 2019

  • April 3, 2019, Day 21
  • Temples: #41, #42, and #43
  • Uchiko, Japan
  • Weather: 45-55 Blue skies with white clouds
  • Miles 27.7 (walk & train) / Total Miles 383

I met my first Japanese woman walking Shikoku 88 Temples. Plus, she walks alone. Other Japanese women seen have come by car or tour bus. I had one burning question. How did her parents feel about her walking Shikoku’s 88 temples? They were extremely apprehensive. Every night she emails her parents to let them she’s doing well.

  1. Cherry Blossom Temple #43
  2. Gate Temple #43
  3. Solo Japanese Walking Woman

Great Mystery – April 3, 2019

    April 3, 2019, Day 21
    Temples: #41, #42, and #43
    Uchiko, Japan
    Weather: 45-55 Blue skies with white clouds
    Miles 27.7 (walk a & train) / Total Miles 383

At one temple a notice was posted for foreigners. Yes, it is strange for me to see myself as a foreigner. It redirected o-henros. Finally the mystery is revealed. Massive land slide. The question remands what caused this extensive damage all throughout this mountain.

P.S.

Thanks to Saburo T., the mystery is solved. The cause of the massive land slide is thought to be the damage done by heavy rains last summer, 2018. Ehime Prefecture (my current location), Hiroshima Prefecture, etc. were severely damaged.

  1. To Temple #43
  2. To Temple #43
  3. To Temple #43

Going Up – April 3, 2019

  • April 3, 2019, Day 21
  • Temples: #41, #42, and #43
  • Uchiko, Japan
  • Weather: 45-55 Blue skies with white clouds
  • Miles 27.7 (walk a & train) / Total Miles 383

It seems as though climbing a mountain and steps are always involved in visiting a temple. It’s always worth the effort.

Many older people visit the temple on bus tours. The buses may take them to the temple but they still must independently climb very uneven rocky steps. Their tour usually comes with a monk to lead them in prayer. The guides are responsible for getting all the guest’s stamp books, scrolls, or shirts stamped. Guides are seen double checking to make sure each item is stamped. There is no margin for error.

  1. Temple #41
  2. Temple #41 Inside Temple #41
  3. Temple #41