Sunrise start of the day.
Walk. Why?
Many accommodations offer public baths, a rich opportunity to soak chin deep in hot water. Men and women have separate baths. First shower for cleanliness. Then soak in a hot bath. A second bath has ice cold water so you can cycle between hot and cold…Naked of course. Can there be a better way to end the day?
Today Naomi and I went to Sea Rest Muroto, a public onsen (public bath) on the beach. An outside hot salt-springs bath slowly roasted the body chin to the toes while the cool sea breeze refreshed the face. A combination of whirlpool and salt water gave buoyancy to legs and arms. An indoor hot bath without salt offered a different feel to the skin. The natural spring hot baths are valued for their mineral content as being healthy.
There is a wonderful mixture of people at the onsen. Some people in business attire popping in after work, adults bringing and caring for aged parents, retired folks. There is a balance of community gathering and quiet time.
Temple #21 at 1,640 feet elevation has magnificent views with glimpses of the ocean and Temple #20. A ten-minute Ropeway (gondola) delivers me to tonight’s accommodations.
Different characters. Same spirit. Temple #20.
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Going to Temple #20.
Hina doll display in Katsuura town.
What does an henro, Japanese pilgrim, do when it rains? Smile, hang out at Lawson (convenient store),and walk.
Just strolling in the rain. Henro rest huts, kyūkeisho, are found frequently along the pilgrimage offering relief from rain and sun.
How would you make a better Hostess Twinkie in Japan? A simple conveyor machine containing individual mini-cake pans is filled with pancakes batter, topped with a drop of sweetened bean paste, and finished with a final layer of batter.
The shop had a line of people out the door picking up boxes of treats. We waited 45-minutes and it was worth the wait.
How’s it taste? It tastes like the lightest, fluffiest American pancake crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The filling is tasty with a hint of sweetness and the texture is creamy.
Linda Scandore 