Tokushima Prefecture #1-#24 – Page 3

“O-Settai”

Saturday, March 16, 2019, Day 3
Temples #11 and #12
Mima, Japan
Weather: 35-45 degrees, strong winds with white clouds in blue skies
14.2 Miles / 33.2 Total Miles

As I was scooping out the best view point for photographing a sampling of the ubiquitous Japanese vending machine, an elderly woman driving a small pick-up truck stops in front of the vending machines delaying the shot. She inserts coins into the machine and out clatters two drinks. She turns to face me for the first time and approaches. Without a word spoken she places one drink in my hand. She walks away being trailed by my shower of “Arigatōgozaimashita” (thank you.”). As a “henro” (pilgrim), the Japanese custom is to give “henros ” small gifts called “o-settai.” A “henro,” never refuses and always gracious accepts the “o-settai.”

The bottle drink was a superlative tea and milk blend with a drop of sweetness served hot. Yummy.

[This delightful encounter came about because my sister-in-law requested photos of the infamous Japanese vending machines,]

O-Settai
Vending machine’s setting
Vending machine’s selections

Gifting

Friday, March 15, 2019, Day 2
Awa City
Weather: 45-55 degrees and blue skies with white clouds
22 Miles / 19 Total Miles

During a temple visit, two ladies approached offered streaming hot tea from a vending machine. The power of random acts of kindness is common along Shikoku’s pilgrimage. Gifts are given with the same joy as received.

FYI: Roadside Japanese vending machine are revolutionary serving bottled drinks from hot tea and coffee to chilled beer and wine. As prevalent as telephone booths were in the 50’s and 60’s, vending machine are the rage.

Temple #6
Temple Origami
Kobo Daishi who established Shikoku’s 88 Buddhist Temples 1,200 years ago

Believe

Thursday, March 14, 2019, Day 1
Temple(s): #1, #2, #3, #4, #5
Tokushima / Nogaro
Weather: 40-55 degrees and blue skies with white clouds
7.1 Miles

I’d like to believe the elderly man sitting along the lane offering unsolicited directions wasn’t just for me, an American, nor for the Dane, the Australian, four Chinese, and many Japanese who followed behind me. Albeit he spoke Japanese; the universal hand gestures seemed to indicate the way.

He peddled his bicycle to each juncture to make sure we turned correctly. The markings were so unnoticeable surely many would have missed the turns.

I’d like to believe he does this everyday.

Paths through bamboo
Flowering tree
Accommodations offer guests customary kimonos to be worn after bathing.

To Begin, to End

Thursday, March 14, 2019, Day 1
Temples: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5
Tokushima / Nogaro
Weather: 40-55 degrees and blue skies with white clouds
7.1 Miles

Begin visiting a temple by entering the gate and finish the visit with a temple’s stamp. The red images are done by rubber stamps and the black images are done with brush and ink. The process is as graceful as the stamp is beautiful.