Henro Day 44

I walked back down the mountain Kappa Doujou and #82 were on and walked into Takamatsu City.

Takamatsu City, from above.

A rest stop before #83. Amazingly good facilities, with tea, a toilet and some poem collections written by people who had walked the pilgrimage.

After walking a while, there was an udon restaurant in just the right place for me, so I had lunch there. I also ready some of a manga called “Living Game” here since I had some spare time.

Takamatsu City, temple 83 – Ichinomiyaji

I stayed the night at “business hotel prince” near Kitachou station.

Henro Day 43

I walked with KN-san and WN-san again this morning, but I wasn’t going to reach the hotel I was planning to stay at by their pace, so I bid farewell at about noon and resumed walking alone.

Sakaide City, temple 79 – Koushouji

Takamatsu City, temple 80 – Kokubunji. Alone again from here on.

Before clikmbing the mountain path to #81, I saw the tag in the photo to the left. It said “Keep to your own pace” which was frighteningly fitting to the situation.

Sakaide City, temple 81 – Shiromineji

A Japanese maple tree which was in the Shiromineji precinct.

The mountain path between #81 and #82.

Takamatsu City, temple 82 – Negoroji. I forgot to photo the Daishi hall, but there was a beautiful maple tree here too, so please enjoy!

I stayed at a place near Negoroji called “Zen Kappa Doujou”

I ate dinner together with the disciples (may be the wrong term, please forgive me!) and ate according to Zen manners. While kneeling the whole time, you set your own tableware in a set manner and order before eating.

After finishing, you put warm water into your bowl and, taking a takuan (pickled daikon radish slice) with your chopsticks you use it to wash the tableware. After washing all the tableware, you use the takuan to wash your chopsticks, eat the takuan and drink the water then use your cloth to wipe the tableware and chopsticks. This was the biggest shock to me (lol).

Finally you pile up your tableware and wrap it in your cloth (in a specific manner and order, of course) and the meal is finished.

From 5am I partook in Zazen (Zen Buddhist meditation), morning service (we had to read various sutra which took a surprisingly long time) then went to the dining hall and ate breakfast in the same way as the previous evening’s dinner.

I thought that Zazen was something where you had to sit cross legged with a straight back and if you don’t stay still you get whacked by a monk, but nobody was whacked.

Henro Day 42

I met 2 henro walkers about my age today, and decided to walk with them.

We all stayed in the same zenkon’yado, but since we were told not to come before 4pm we took our time in Marugame City before going.

Zentsuuji City, number 76- Konzouji. I met KN-san (female) and WN-san (male) here!

Apparently they have been walking together since #12. I wonder if I was an interference (lol)

Tadotsu Town, number 77 – Douryuuji

We still had plenty of time when we reached Marugame City, so we had lunch then checked out Marugame castle.

For some reason it turned into a kind of competition and we half ran on the way up ^^;;

Utazu Town, number 78 – Goushouji

Utazu Town, zenkon’yado “utangura”’s living room. I forgot to photo the bedroom but it was an ordinary Japanese style room.

The couple who are providing the zenkon’yado were very friendly and let us use the bath, the washing machine and lent out bicycles to go to the local supermarket because most of the 7 or so of us that were staying hadn’t eaten before coming. I was very grateful!

As a kind of ‘sequel’ to todays events, when I reached the hotel I was staying at the following day I realised I’d forgotten one of my towels and half my underwear at Utangura. (teardrop)

Henro Day 41

I walked along the Saidagawa river for about 5KM till the first temple today.

Mitoyo City, temple 70 – Motoyamaji

Then I walked about 12KM through Mitoyo City…

And reached Iyadaniji.

Mitoyo City, temple 71 – Iyadaniji.

Loads. Of. Stairs.

Found some ‘Dekotora’ (decorated trucks) – just some strange Japanese phenomenon.

Zentsuuji City, temple 72 – Mandaraji

Zentsuuji City, temple 73 – Shusshakaji. Close to Mandaraji (about 500 meters)

Overlooking Zentsuuji City from outside Shusshakaji’s main gate.

Zentsuuji City, temple 74 – Kouyamaji. I think the folks in black clothing are monks from Kouyasan.

Zentsuuji City, temple 75 – Zentsuuji. The halls and precinct are huge and there were a lot of tourists.

This is where Kouboudaishi was born.

The Shukubou hotel attached to Zentsuuji. There’s no TV in the room, and no manga (teardrop). … Just what am I expecting from a Shukubou (lol).

The food was good, and after the morning service, I got to visit the basement room in the Daishi Hall and listen to the voice of Kouboudaishi as synthesized from his physique in pictures and statues.