Iyadaniji(71)Mandraji(72)Shusshakaji(73)Koyamaji(74)Zentsuji(75)

April 10

We had a peaceful night in our little efficiency apartment and we were ready to be be on the move by 6:30. There are five temples fairly close together so our goal is to visit them all. The sky was the bluest that it has been for awhile. As we started down the street a man came running up behind us and handed us a bottle of tea to drink. Nice way to start the morning. We had hoped to stop at a road side rest for breakfast but it wasn’t open for another hour so we thought we would go ahead and check out Temple 71. One of the oldest temples on Shikoku as well as one of the more sacred religious sites in Japan. As with a lot of temples that sit on a mountain there are a lot of steps to reach the main grounds.

We walked thru the gate and up some steps before finding a place to leave our backpacks. This temple has many artifacts as well as about 1500 rock carvings. The temple is also built vertically with the different Halls being on different levels.

A very old bell was also sitting on one of the porches.

Tucked in to many of the caves were memorials and there were also figures actually cut into the rocks.

We walked up steps passing what seemed to be very old statues.

In the office where we got our book signed, there was a hallway that took us back to where a statue of Kobo Dasishi was sitting in a cave.(no photos allowed)

We met Dennis and Charlotte from Hong Kong. We exchanged some gifts and shared some of our experiences. They are going to all the temples in a month by using public transportation.

We are awestruck by the beautiful flower arrangements.

It is always a treat when you get to where the temple is located and see how it has a view over the town below.

We visit another hall before beginning the descent to the bottom and hopefully get breakfast at the road side rest.

We meet a couple from Italy who are riding the pilgrimage route on a tandem bike. We talk bike packing for awhile.

The road side rest is opened and we filled up with a delicious breakfast

Less than two miles away is Temple 72. We walk up a hill to enter the gate.

We are a bit saddened to see all the cherry blossoms on the ground.

There is also a floral display surrounding the water basin.

Scenes from the bell tower.

One of the smaller Halls.

We meet Charlotte again and are introduced to the cutout figure she is carrying with her.

Time to head back down the hill to the next temple

Temple 73 is very close and soon we approach it.

And enter the gate.

More flowers await us.

Looking thru the gate to the city below.

Some scenes from the temple.

Then it is on to the the next temple

The next temple is a small temple called Koyamaji. We enter the gate and quickly notice all of the rabbit statues,

It is the temple of good luck! Remember to rub the rabbits.

We stare at the flower arrangement which are perfect.

We notice one of our favorite signs.

We so agree.

It is a small temple tucked against palm trees.

The last temple of the day and perhaps the most important and largest one on the Pilgrim route is Zentusji (75) This temple is the birthplace of Kobo Daishi. We have plenty of time to look at the variety of things that are located here.

First off we are taken aback by the size of the grounds. We notice things that we have not seen at the other temples.

We were not sure what these were.

So many statues

A 5 story Pagoda

And almost to be expected beautiful flower arrangements.

There is a museum here that contains some of Kobo Dashi's artwork and calligraphy

The Museum

We meet Tim from Australia. He is doing the route counter clockwise and met our friend Renee several days ago. She told him about us as he is also trying to camp when he can. We shared some of the camp sites that we used.

We are almost finished and he is just starting

A 1000 year old camphor tree was fenced off. It is a respected tree.

Impressive.

One of the halls.

There was a lot of people here but the grounds were so huge that everyone was spread out. I am sure that we missed a lot of interesting things, but it was time to head to our hotel

On the way to our hotel, we passed a large grocery store. We went in to check it out and quickly had a grocery crate that was overflowing. I guess we have hiker hunger. We had planned to go out to eat tonight, but looks like we will be eating in our room. Our hotel is older but very adequate. Plus it was close to the last temple. Today has all worked out.

Accommodation. Zentsuji Grand Hotel

Miles hiked 12