Unlike Kochi Prefecture, the temples in Ehime are far closer together and today we visited four in quick succession. Luckily the weather remained dry and there was even a smattering of sun!
![Walking henro](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-555.jpeg)
After a surprisingly good Business Hotel breakfast (jam on toast, cereal, sausages) we head south from Imabari Station, hitting Taisan-ji (泰山寺 – 56), Eifuku-ji (栄福寺 – 57), and Senyū-ji (仙遊寺 – 58) which are all about 3km apart.
![Monument to dead henro](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-553.jpeg)
On the way to Eifuku-ji we came across a monument to henro who have died on the trail (this was not uncommon in the past). The white hakui shirt that we wear was considered a death shroud, symbolising that the pilgrim was prepared to die at any time.
![Imabari-hidaka hut (41)](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-554.jpeg)
Next to the monument was Imabari-hidaka hut (41) but given its proximity to the surrounding houses, I’m not sure how suitable it would be to sleep here.
![Ishikawa-San](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-557.jpeg)
At Eifuku-ji we bumped into the talkative henro we’d met twice yesterday. Another one-sided conversation ensued but this time, we did catch his name; Ishikawa-San (meaning stone river). It’s a pity that my Japanese isn’t better because he seemed to be trying to communicate something important.
![Hike to Senyū-ji](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-559.jpeg)
![Bamboo forest near Senyū-ji](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-561.jpeg)
The route to Senyū-ji culminates in a steep uphill climb through the woods, including a beautiful bamboo forest.
![Senyū-ji Gate](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-564.jpeg)
![Pilgrims at Senyū-ji](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-563.jpeg)
![Pilgrims at Senyū-ji](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-562.jpeg)
Reaching the top we were greeted by a large group of bus henro with a leader who was chanting through a loudspeaker. I had to suppress the urge to tear it out of his hands since it was really spoiling the atmosphere.
![Anpanman on pavement](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-565.jpeg)
On the way down we stopped at a roadside Mos Burger outpost for lunch. For fast-food their burgers are half decent and much better than the Golden Arches.
![Iyo-Tomita Station](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-566.jpeg)
Sadly Chen has to return to work tomorrow so at 12.30 I said goodbye to her at Iyo-Tomita Station. Thanks to Japan’s amazingly well-integrated train system she was back in Tokyo by 7 pm. I’m very thankful the weather held back for the past couple of days.
![Shaking Kōbō-Daishi's hand](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-567.jpeg)
Iyo Kokubun-ji (伊予国分寺 – 59) was a fairly standard temple with the added bonus of a statue of Kōbō-Daishi whose hand you can shake.
Notice the handle of my stick in the background of the last photo. I stupidly walked off without it, only remembering 20 minutes further down the road at which point I bid a hasty return, cursing myself the whole way back.
![Mount Ishizuchi](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-570.jpeg)
Heading south, parallel to the Imabari-Komatsu Expressway, I got my first view of Mount Ishizuchi on the horizon near Sendanji. Tantalisingly shrouded in wispy clouds and standing 1921m high it was a moment of realisation that what I had been calling mountains until now were really mere hills.
![Kyōmyōji tsuyado](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-568.jpeg)
I arrived at Kyōmyōji temple at 4 pm. In one corner there’s a small tsuyado with bunk beds and a tatami seating area. They have instructions on the door in English and Japanese which makes it pretty simple.
![Kyōmyōji tsuyado](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-569.jpeg)
The head priest readily gave his permission to stay and, having left my pack inside, I head to a nearby public bathhouse. The little old lady outside seemed to be in charge and I paid her the entrance fee but she told me I couldn’t take my bag inside. In most situations, I would never feel comfortable leaving my valuables with a stranger but given my past experiences in Japan and Shikoku, I knew it would be ok.
![Public bath](https://randomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/image-571.jpeg)
The bathhouse was basic but did the job. Afterwards, I went to the supermarket next to Kyōmyōji and had a bento for dinner, feeling a touch lonely for the first time.
Tomorrow I plan to climb 800m up to Yokomine-ji (横峰寺 – 60) and reach Maegami-ji (前神寺 – 64) by end of day, weather permitting.
All photos of yours truly today are courtesy of Chen 🙂
Information
Distance walked: 36 km / 47,500 steps
Temples visited: 56–59
Overnight lodgings: Kōmyō-ji (光明寺) – Tsuyado
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