Day 45: Goshikidai Hut

Today the weather didn’t seem to be able to make its mind up about whether it was merely depressed or openly crying.

I left Marugame at 7am, heading east towards Gōshō-ji (郷照寺 – 78). Even though it wasn’t raining yet the humidity was making my clothes stick to my skin and the outlook for the rest of the day didn’t look very bright.

Akiba Jinja
Old shop near Gōshō-ji

After reaching Akiba Shrine the route takes you down a nicely preserved old street with a few traditional shops. Since it was only 8 am nothing was open yet.

Gōshō-ji Temple
Gōshō-ji Bell
Anpanman in Sakaide City

The temple rites soon over, I continued through Sakaide City (坂出市) which, like Marugame, didn’t seem to have much going on.

Yasoba-no-mizu

Shortly before reaching Tennō-ji (天皇寺 – 79) I passed Kiyomizu-ya restaurant next to Yasoba-no-mizu temple. Sitting beside a pretty pond, it looked like a nice place for lunch but was too early so I continued.

Shiraminegū Shrine Gate

It started raining almost as soon as I arrived at Tennō-ji, having first walked through the intersecting Shiraminegū Shrine.

Shiraminegū Shrine Lion

I headed straight for cover at the temple office so I could get out my wet weather gear. Since the rain wasn’t too heavy I just put on my backpack and hat cover to avoid getting any more sweaty than I already was.

The man in the office asked the usual questions while I was getting prepared; Where are you from? Where are you heading today? How did you know about the pilgrimage? I probably answer these questions three or four times a day but don’t really mind since I’m walking alone most of the time and it’s an opportunity to have a conversation.

Udon Yamashita

Just before reaching Sanuki Kokubun-ji (讃岐国分寺 – 80) I stopped for lunch at Udon Yamashita around 11.30 am. I was their first customer of the day and ordered a large bowl of cold udon with tempura and fried chicken since it would be my main meal today.

At Kokubun-ji the Daishi hall was combined with the shop and temple office which seemed more geared around money-making than prayer.

Henro Direction Stickers
Stormy Mountains
Sanuki Henro Trail stream

With 15km already under my belt, the 7km route up the mountain to Shiromine-ji (白峯寺 – 81) was made more difficult by the fact that the rain had turned the path into a stream.

Japanese Self Defence Force training area

I passed a Self Defence Force training area with “keep out” signs posted all over the barbed wire fence.

Dragonfly henro

While taking a breather a tame dragonfly landed on my stick and sat calmly for a few minutes while we contemplated each other. It had the most beautifully intricate wings.

Shiromine-ji Temple
Shiromine-ji Trees

Trying to dodge the muddy water and not slip over on the rocks while juggling a heavy pack meant I didn’t reach Shiromine-ji till 2.30 pm but by the time I did the rain had thankfully stopped.

Leaves at Shiromine-ji

Post-rain the trees looked stunning.

Sanuki Henro Trail

Situated at the opposite end of the ridge, Negoro-ji (根香寺 – 82) is reached via the Sanuki Henro Trail. It too was severely waterlogged but at least it was fairly level.

Go down sign
Goshikidai Hut

On the way, I met Noguchi-San, another henro who was heading in the same direction. Shortly before Negoro-ji we reached Goshikidai hut (51) which is where I planned to stay the night.

Goshikidai Hut Interior

Fully enclosed with a sleeping loft, water, electricity and western-style toilets, it’s the best hut I’ve seen on the whole island. Noguchi-San had been planning to descend back to Kokubun-ji but after seeing the hut he decided to stay too.

Noguchi-San

Since it was already 4.30 pm I left my pack and continued 10 minutes further to Negoro-ji so I could get my book stamped before the temple office closed. It’s a small temple but with a beautiful tree-covered approach.

Afterwards, I headed back to the hut and had a simple dinner of some food I’d picked up at a combini earlier before settling down for the evening.

Okyu Acupuncture

Unfortunately, my Japanese wasn’t up to much of a conversation with Noguchi-San but he did show me a sort of acupuncture where instead of using needles you set fire to a small pad that you stick on pressure points (okyu お灸). I tried it on my legs but didn’t notice much effect!

Tomorrow I’ll reach Takamatsu City where I’m planning a bit of sightseeing in the afternoon so less walking than the 33km today 🙂

Information

Distance walked: 33 km / 46,100 steps
Temples visited: 78–82
Overnight lodgings: Goshikidai Hut (へんろ小屋五色台) – Hut

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David avatar

5 responses

  1. Margaret avatar
    Margaret

    Gosh, the rain looked torrential in your photo!! Have had some pretty extreme rain here this week too. Love the close up of the Dragon fly – good you have time to pause and look ?

  2. Steve avatar
    Steve

    I guess you’re getting close to visiting temple 86, Shido-ji — do you know about its association with the Noh play “Ama” (and a whole slew of associated tellings of that particular legend)? I don’t know how it’s depicted or memorialised there (never been there, though I’ve read several of the popular, usually illustrated retellings from the medieval-Edo eras) but if you have time I recommend looking out for it!

    1. Hey Steve, thanks for the interesting background. Unfortunately temple 86 was in a complete shambles (see today’s post) so I wasn’t able to spot anything related to the play 🙁

  3. Steve avatar
    Steve

    (just for ref, here’s a summary of the play — https://theatrenohgaku.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/ama-海女/ )

  4. Staffa avatar
    Staffa

    I have used those burning pads (acupuncture-like) stuff before. Used them a lot, actually. I like them!

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