Tamaki Family Shrine – Friday, April 19, 2019

  • Friday, April 19, 2019 Day 36
  • Temples: Tamaki
  • Nara (75 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies

The Tamaki shrine was donated by Saburo’s great-great grandfather and has continued as an active religious temple. It’s location a 40-minute drive from Saburo’s home high in the mountains.

  1. World Heritage
  2. Gate
  3. Wash Hands
  4. Bell
  5. Temple

Pedestrian Suspense Bridge – Thursday, April 18, 2019

  • Thursday, April 18, 2019 Day 36
  • Temples: N/A
  • Nara (75 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies

With great delight Saburo challenge Namiyo and me to walk across this extremely long pedestrian bridge. I wanted to refuse; but, wouldn’t once I realize how enthusiastic Namiyo was to walk it. I clutched her hand the whole way.

  1. Bridge running from from “3:00” to “9:00” position
  2. L-O-N-G Bridge
  3. Successful Duo!!

Koyasan’s Konpon Daitō – Thursday, April 18, 2019

  • Thursday, April 18, 2019 Day 36 Temples: Koyasan
  • Koyasan (53 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies
  • Miles 108 miles (bus, walk, car) / Total Miles 794

Konpon Daitō, the 174 foot tall pagoda, is the symbol of Koyasan.

  1. Konpon Daitō
  2. Konpon Daitō, Namiyo and Saburo T.
  3. Bell at Konpon Daitō’s

Koyasan’s Okunion – Thursday, April 18, 2019

  • Thursday, April 18, 2019 Day 36
  • Temples: Koyasan
  • Koyasan (53 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies
  • Miles 108 miles (bus, walk, car) / Total Miles 794

Okunion is a most sacred place and the largest graveyard in Japan with over 200,000 graves. Included is mausoleum of Kōbō Daishi. It is said he is here in eternal meditation.

  1. Saburo explains this tomb is a famous ancient samurai
  2. Ancient Tomb
  3. Contemporary tomb of a comedian

Lobsters – Thursday, April 18, 2019

  • Thursday, April 18, 2019 Day 36
  • Temples: Koyasan
  • Koyasan (53 miles from Ōsaka), Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees blue skies
  • Miles 108 miles (bus, walk, car) / Total Miles 794

My last onsen. I kept stepping out of the hotel’s bath only to return. Capture the moment as this will be an often recalled memory. It feels like your body is encased in hot liquid wax. The hot water encapsulate you. When this becomes too hot, lower yourself into an ice cold bath. You sense your skin being cold but the internal residual heat keeps you hot at the same time. Soon the body is numbed by the icy cold bath and you still sense the residual heat keeping you hot. It’s ecstasy.

Do lobsters feel this euphoric before they are cooked alive?

  1. Koyasan
  2. Koyasan
  3. Koyasan

Yukata – Wednesday, April 17, 2019

  • Wednesday, April 16, 2019 Day 35
  • Temples: #1
  • Tokushima, Japan
  • Weather: 55-65 degrees overcast
  • Miles 21.5 miles (bus, 3 trains & walk) / Total Miles 686

All I wanted was a simple yukata like the ones presented each night for the o-henros to wear. The shop ladies insisted this was a yukata though I showed her pictures of the comforter attire I was in search.

As beautiful as the garnet is I explained it took a dresser to put it on me and I didn’t know how to tie the sash. Her reply was, “Tie the sash in front and twist it to the back. You can learn how to tie it on YouTube.” I didn’t make the purchase but thanked them for making me so pretty.

  1. Yukata?
  2. Yukata?
  3. Yukata?