Thursday, November 9, 2017

Henro Tour; Part 3

Beautiful early morning at the Awa-Ikeda Station on the way back to Tokushima City this morning.


Spent last night in Kōchi City, but in this small, 5 mat, room in Nakamura two nights ago as part 2 of this three-part fall in Japan came to an end. It's a very typical henro room, although most are usually a couple of tatami mats bigger than this.


Back in Tokushima, i was shocked to hear Christmas music at the department store mixed in with the regular musac. 

Then, when i came down to the lobby of tonight's hotel this is what i saw from the lobby window.


Have people become completely shameless? Already pushing Christmas in early November? Pretty soon it will be either Easter or Christmas all year long.

Had  a wonderful train ride from Kōchi City to Tokushima City this morning. Took about three and a half hours with the first half passing through the heart of the central mountain range and the second half a local train, stopping at every town and village so i could people watch.

In addition, it was a beautiful three and a half hours spent reading and meditating on the Ashtavakra Sutra. 

Second, and last, Mountain Hiking Holidays tour starts tomorrow morning. Have plans to climb Mt. Ishizuchi when the tour ends, but a Japanese friend told me today he doubts i will be able to---it's apparently already snowing in that area. :-(



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