Tour Two

Tour two started today. Another nine days of trekking, starting today with the walk from Temple 1 to Temple 5.

Bought a walking stick, candles, incense, and name slips for my personsl walk beginning 4/12.

Day Off

First of two days off before second tour starts on Saturday. Nothing that needs doing so i've been laying around in the hotel, reading and watching baseball. The championship game for the national high school tournament this morning and pro ball tonight. 

Temple 88

An amazing final day for this first (of two) tour. Walked from Temple 87 to Temple 88. A little warm (around 68°F), but overall another great day in hiking boots in the mountains.

And, of course, another statue of Kobo Daishi.

Temple 60

Climbed to Yokomineji, Temple 60, today. Hard to believe tomorrow is the last day for this first tour group.

A Shinto shrine we passed on the way to Temple 61.

Temples 44 & 45

Spent another day in the mountains hiking from Temple 44 (Daihōji) to Temple 45 (Iwayaji). Great hiking weather--sunny and upper fifties. 

Kōbō Daishi greeted us at the top of the first pass.

Then, several hours later we arrived at the temple and were greeted by the main deity, Fudō Myōō.

Tomorrow we climb to Temple 60, Yokomineji.

Cherry Blossoms

Walked to and visited seven temples today before heading to our hotel in Matsuyama. This tour is going by incredibly fast!

The cherry blossoms today at the temple above were stunning

Mount Tsurugi

Spent the day climbing Mount Tsurugi, the second highest peak on Shikoku. 6,414 ft.

Beautiful, beautiful day. Blue skies, sunny, and temperatures in the upper forties or lower fifties.