I mistakenly ended up at what I thought was Temple 83. Buddhist temples often incorporate Shinto elements, but this particular place felt excessively Shinto, with a plethora of kami (deities, spirits, etc.) on display. The vibe was almost like a scene straight out of an anime theme park. Eventually, I realized the temple was right next door. Oops!
Category: Place
The Slow Road to Takamatsu
Stitched together a journey along the less-traveled east coast of the Muroto Peninsula and beyond to Takamatsu. Three local buses on a road hugging the spectacular coastline, a local then an express train, ending at a pleasant hotel towering over the station plaza. Somehow I got in 10,000+ steps exploring between rides.
No Language Barrier Here
Checked out of the ryokan I’ve been staying at. I’m so glad the owner insisted I take a selfie with her! She’s a real firecracker–always manages to communicate with such humor. Speaking of humor, click through to check out a cartoon she drew to explain what was in front of me for breakfast.
It’s the Journey
On my walk to temples 25 and 26, I exchanged konnichiwa greetings with actual Shikoku 88 (temple) pilgrims. Two dragons guarded the purification basin at Kongochoji, temple 26.
A Good Place for Introverts
Rode a rural train to the end of the line, then boarded a rural bus that took me all the way to the sparsely populated tip of the Muroto Peninsula. Climbed to temple 24 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. Now, I’m settled into a ryokan, a traditional old-fashioned inn, bathed, wearing a yukata, ready for dinner. Later, I’ll be crashing out in this room on a futon on the tatami mats.
Fuji-san From Seat 9K
Whenever I fly west out of Tokyo I always select a window seat on the right side of the plane hoping for clear weather. Today I was not disappointed.
Tokyo HND—Kochi KCZ
This morning (Friday) I’ll fly from Tokyo to Kochi where I’ll stay tonight. Tomorrow (Saturday) I’ll head down the Muroto Peninsula (blue rectangle) for a few days.
Airside Oasis
Walked through the well-maintained airside gardens at Honolulu HNL, with sections reflecting multicultural Hawaii and its historical connections with Asia. These include gardens dedicated to China, Japan, and Hawaii itself. The scents of vegetation mingle with the occasional whiff of aviation fuel.
Honolulu to Tokyo
This afternoon (Wednesday) Dwight flies home, arriving Minneapolis early Thursday morning, and I fly to Tokyo, arriving Thursday evening. In Tokyo, I’ll check into an airport terminal hotel. Friday morning, I’ll fly to Kochi on Shikoku, one of Japan’s four main islands.
One Foot in Asia
At Stüssy, only a few customers were allowed in at a time. Those waiting patiently in line were mainly Asian, reflecting the demographics of Hawaii tourism. Nearly half of all visitors to Hawaii come from Asia, a trend that began with the early Japanese settlements in the 1870s. Perhaps this explains why we had the best tonkatsu, ever, in Honolulu.