Henro Day 46

I finally completed the pilgrimage today!

It hasn’t really hit me that it’s over yet.

Sanuki City’s Maeyama Dam

Service stop Nagao. There are various displays and information about the Henro pilgrimage. The man working here wrote my name on a certificate to say I’d walked the pilgrimage.

I encountered some monkeys walking towards temple #88.

When I got as far as #88’s gate, I had some udon noodles before entering. (lol)

Sanuki City, the 88th and last temple – Ookuboji.

The middle picture shows the staffs of many walkers who completed the pilgrimage then gave their staff as an offering.

I then walked about another 10KM…

And arrived at Shiratori Onsen! The room was a little small, but being able to soak in a hot spring bath and eat good food was nice. The food in the photo above is breakfast the following morning.

Tomorrow I plan to walk back to the first temple Ryouzenji and complete a circuit of Shikoku.

Henro Day 45

I walked as far as #87 today, so the end is in sight.

The next temple is on top of Yashima plateau.

I climbed Yashima…

Takamatsu City, temple 84 – Yashimaji’s gates. Both of them.

Yashimaji’s main hall, Minoyama Daimyoujin shrine, Daishi hall

The man in the Yashimaji’s stamp/sutra hall gave me these sweets called “suzu no ne kikou” (Bell chime traveller’s journey). Very tasty!

The mountain #85 is on came into sight as I descended from Yashima. Part way there was a rest stop with some cute ceramics.

Approaching #85…

After climbing up, it was possible to see the Yashima plateau again. The picture on the right is Kuukai’s viewpoint – looking towards the temple gate.

Takamatsu City, temple 85 - Yakuriji

Sanuki Udon for lunch again!

Heading for #86.

Takamatsu City, temple 86 – Shidoji

I met some people who were giving out tea and sweets as Settai. Thank you!

To get to #87, you have to pass through a place called “Orange Town” and for soe reason they have the town name in large letters on a hill like Hollywood.

Sanuki City, temple 87 – Nagaoji

I stayed at a place called “Nagaoji” next to Nagaoji(the temple). I can recommend this place! The rooms are regular, tidy Japanese style. They provide a tea set and a yukata to wear and the staff were friendly.

They don’t seem to mind if you stay without buying dinner and breakfast, and happily lent me the use of their microwave oven. They also provided wireless internet and had a manga library I could read (this is important!! lol)