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

Chairlift- 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, chairlift, rope line) / Total Miles 478.1

The chairlift would not have been my first choice for riding to Matsuyama Castle. It’s too exposed for my comfort level. Can you believe there was no seat seat or lap bar? Obviously it would not have met OSHA standards. How had somebody no fallen from this chairlift? As the chairlift was Christine’s choice, off we went. It was truly an amazing ride having the wind and sun in your face. Unfortunately we missed the chairlift’s closing time for the return trip and had to ride in the rope line “gondola.” It probably met OSHA standards.

  1. Video of Christine on Chairlift
  2. Linda’s selfie on Chairlift Ropeline
  3. Gondola

Dōgo Onsen – 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

As this our vacation day, the Dōgo Onsen is a priority. This hot spring is said to be Japan’s oldest with 3,000 year history and is the most well known bath houses in all of Japan. Unfortunately it is being renovated and only one small hot bath was available for women. None the less, we felt the magic of being there. How nice to share this bit of history with Christine.

How do you top this off? Sushi for lunch.

  1. Dōgo Onsen
  2. Dōgo Onsen
  3. Sushi for lunch