Route Inns are a reliable choice and offer good value. A substantial breakfast buffet is included and they offer public baths for men and women. Despite being in the heat all day, we love getting into the heat of a Japanese bath as it helps to dissolve our aches and pains.
We met this couple at the temple. They called themselves the Alex’s (both have the same name!) and they are from Tasmania. They have 3 more days of their Pilgrimage. Her hiking boots have lost their tread and they both said their bodies are ready for a break. A lovely couple.
We will go to this window where a member of the Temple will draw a stamp in our Goshuin book. The rope rings a bell which is encouraged…just not when you are leaving.
The Alex’s from Tasmania are on their way. We wish them well on the final days of their pilgrimage. They began their trip in September which was considerably hotter than it is now.
We are accustomed to seeing large statues of ferocious looking characters at the entrance gates protecting the temple. Seeing sumo wrestlers is a first for us, but it does make sense.
This temple is quite different from temples which are part of the pilgrimage. It is a sacred site. Despite not being part of the pilgrimage, they did a stamp for us and gifted us with 2 mandarins.
