According to the information I heard last night, I could be in time for the substitute bus for the Koyasan cable car if I could arrive at the bus stop at 6:30, so I left the hotel early. In the end, the bus left a little before 7:00. From Hashimoto station, the bus went through …
Continue reading “Day 35: Orei-mairi to Mt.Koya & No.1 Ryozen-ji”
I was able to take the community bus (I was bit nervous because the community bus quite often suspend their service). The bus followed the same route I had walked yesterday and today it just took one hour! I got off the bus at the Shido bus stop, which cost just 200 yen for a …
Continue reading “Day 34: Heading to Mt.Koya via Osaka & Hashimoto”
I still had some time before the community bus, so I went to Yasoba-an which is located just in front of Ookubo-ji. I ordered Uchikomi-udon with pork, taro and other vegetables simmered in a white miso-based soup, together with oden. It was cold outside, so it warmed me up. The people at the restaurant were …
The person I met at Kechigan-no-yado Nagao-ji recommended to go for the route via Mt.Nyotai, but considering the time, I took the old pilgrimage route. The old pilgrimage route was a little scary because there was a disposal site for construction soil on the way, and trucks kept coming by. Once you get past it, …
At last, I’m heading to Okubo-ji, the last sacred temple of the pilgrimage. It was a long pilgrimage, and I was deeply moved by the thought that it would be only 10 Km left. Along the way, I saw some small temple, various Jizo statues, and stone signposts, which reminded me of my long pilgrimage. …
Continue reading “Day 34: Maeyama Ohenro Exchange Salon (前山おへんろ交流サロン)”
The Nagao-ji is located right next to Kechigan-no-yado Nagao-ji, so I could pay my respects in the quiet morning air, which was even better on that day because it was sunny and the air was chilly. The precincts of the temple are large, but there’re only a few buildings. I like this Taishi-do with its …
At breakfast, I asked him again how he was moving so nimbly, and he told me that he was a runner. He was actually very fast runner who had participated one of the greatest mountain race in France, where he rans up and down mountains. I believe I met him several times during my pilgrimage. …
For this couple of days, I was wondering how to finish my pilgrimage after visiting the last sacred temple Ookubo-ji. I was thinking about following 3 ways. Take public transportation to Tokushima airport to go back Tokyo directly Continue to walk to No.1 Ryozan-ji, located about 40 Km away from No.88 Okubo-ji for Orei-mairi (thanking …
Continue reading “Day 33: Kechigan-no-yado Nagao-ji (結願の宿 ながお路)”
I think it’s interesting or rather strange that the inner shrine is appeared before the main temple even though I’m following the “official” pilgrimage route. For example, today, I reached Jizo-ji (the inner shrine of No.86 Shido-ji) before Shido-ji, and now I reached Gyokusen-ji (the inner shrine of No.87 Nagao-ji) before Nagao-ji 🙂 The temple …
Continue reading “Day 33: Gyokusen-ji, inner shrine of No.87 Nagao-ji (長尾寺奥の院 玉泉寺)”
From Yakuri-ji to Shido-ji, it was another tough descent. At the entrance to the old pilgrimage route, there was a sign saying to be careful because the route is steep and slippery. At the roadside station, Genpei-no-sato Mure, there were some delicious looking rice cakes, but I had to give up because the expiration date …
Before arriving at Shido-ji, I found the inner shrine of Shido-ji and paid my respects. I was curious about the meaning of “Uonomido (魚霊堂)” written in front of the gate, so I looked it up. There is a legend that during the reign of Emperor Keiko in Japanese mythology, a son of Nihon Takeru-no-Mikoto was …
Continue reading “Day 33: Jizo-ji, inner shrine of No.86 Shido-ji (志度寺奥の院 地蔵寺)”
As I approached the Yakuri-ji, I found the cable car stop… Yes, of course, another climb is waiting for me 🙂 I took the path beside the cable car station, As expected, it was a very steep climb. On the way, I saw a sign that said the old pilgrimage route had been restored however …