Japan 2022 Itinerary

I’m home from a solo three-week trip to Japan. As usual, I made it up as I went along based on research, past experience, and whim.

I visited three of Japan’s main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Hokkaido didn’t make the list this time because winter was setting in there and I didn’t want to carry winter clothes.

Teshima Art Island

Walked across Teshima, one of the “art islands” in the Seto Inland Sea, looking for art installations. At one point, sat on the floor in a vast concrete inside space while little rivulets of water slowly formed around me, only to “find” tiny drain holes. (Photography wasn’t allowed.)

Shikoku Hike

Incorporated part of the Shikoku 88 (temples) pilgrimage and temples 80 and 81 into today’s hike.

Happy Scene

Our day pursuing art on Naoshima Island was interrupted by this happy scene. The men were having a great time occasionally hollering and making the platform sway, rise, and drop. Meanwhile the kids on the platform maintained both their composure and the rhythm on a taiko drum.

Temples 52 and 53

Explored on foot, helped by two trains. Shikoku 88 temples (52, 53), pilgrims, a castle, a museum designed by Tadao Ando all about a novel, a convenience store, pre-schoolers shouting “hello” and “konichiwa,” houses and gardens, kind people, rice fields ready for harvest, … .