The Eighth Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku(2)
This is Ishiteji- Temple 石手寺 near Dogo Hot- spring in Ehime Prefecture. This temple has large grounds(境内) and is well- known as a popular scenic spot around Matsuyama. There is a big golden 五鈷 Goko in front of the main temple. The color of curtain(幕) looks like the one in Tibetan temples.
This temple has many interesting things to see.
To my regret, I didn't have enough time to go into this weird cave. I'm sure you can enjoy Mizuki Shigeru's or Miyazaki Hayao's world in it. Children must be very excited.
This cup is Tobe ware (砥部焼), which is well- known nationwide.
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The Eighth Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku (1)
I took part in the 8th bus trip to Shikoku as a part of 88 Temple Pilgrimage on Aug.24 and 25. There were 27 tour members this time. The weather was good and it was cool in the morning and evening, but it was still hot during the daytime. I visited eight temples in Ehime Prefecture for two days. This picture is 岩屋寺 Iwaya-ji Temple, which is said to be the hardest place to visit among 88 Temples. There are many huge rocks with holes around the temple.
It was very tough to go up the mountain to reach the temple. This time, most of the members were younger than my husband and I. Young people could reach the temple in about 20 minutes after getting off the bus, but it took about 40 minutes for us to finally reach the temple. My husband is three years older than I ,and he had to stop going up many times halfway. Anyway, we could pass through the hardest pilgrimage.
To be continued.
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Ashizuri Point 足摺岬
I stayed overnight at a small hotel in Ashizuri Point, Tosa Shimizu City. It is a lonely port town having several inns and hotels. There is an elementary school at the Point having a small playground and a pool. Children seem to swim in the pool. I couldn't see any beaches to swim out there. Steep cliffs make a person difficult to approach the sea. .This is a subtropical plant before the hotel.
We were served ayu fish, raw fish of yokowa and squid, shellfish, katsuo no tataki, etc. Raw fish and bonito were very fresh and delicious.
On the next day, I visited a lighthouse standing at Asizuri Point. The scenery was marvelous. The Point was once a famous place for committing suicide. I remembered the short story 足摺岬 written by 田宮虎彦. It is a dark story after WW��. Blue sky and blue sea made me forget the sad story.
There is a big statue of ジョン万次郎 near the Point. He was shipwrecked and saved by an American ship. He seemed to stay in America for some time. After coming back to Japan, he took an active part at the end of Edo era as an interpreter.
I sweat and sweat during the trip. I have to train myself for the next pilgrimage scheduled at the end of August.
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The 7th Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku
I took part in the 7th bus trip as a part of the 88 Temple Pilgrimage of Shikoku on July 21 and 22. After six and a half hours by bus, we reached Shimanto 四万十 area. It was a long, long bus trip.
First of all, we visited Shakkizan赤亀山, Enkouji Temple延光寺 in Sukumo City宿毛市. A statue of a red tortoise welcomed us. It is carrying a bell on its back. It's said that the tortoise brought back the bell from the Sea God's Palace竜宮城.
After that, we went to Shimanto River and took a roofed pleasure boat called Yakatabune屋形船. This river is in the part of 汽水域 where sea water and fresh water are mixed. Various kinds of fish like crucian carp 鮒 and sea bream鯛 can live.
A boatman told us about some ways of fishing in the river and two fishermen displayed us the way of casting a net and the way of using bamboo leaves to catch fish. The fisherman sinks the bamboo leaves in the sea and fish gather among leaves. A Japanese eel -raising industry is also popular in the river. The boatman was very talkative and we enjoyed his funny talking very much.
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朝青龍
The next day, I visited Shoryuji-Temple 青龍寺. I had to go up a steep stone stairs with 170 steps. It was very slippery, so I had to be most careful, especially when I went down. I’ve heard that a Yokozuna, Asasyoryu 朝青龍 trained himself, going up and down this stairs many times every day in his 明徳義塾 days. So he was named in the name of this temple. Hydrangea consoled me while I was going up, gasping.Thank you for coming. I’d appreciate it if you could vote. 
