Morning I woke up refreshed and luckily I felt better than last night. Indeed I felt better than I had felt yesterday when I woke up! This was promising. Sleep and taping had done wonders and I felt like I could walk today normally.
On agreed time we headed toward the Mishima shrine...And found out there's a LOT of Mishima shrines(even with same kanji letters!). Luckily google map gave better time finding correct one than navigator so we got there anyway.
Driver had asked if he could tag along. Well I said sure if he wants he's free to join me. Guess he was curious to see how it is done(and said he doesn't usually go to temples himself). At first he started walking but then came to conclusion he would go by car there ahead and read a book. This suited me as well. Company would have been welcome but he would have lonely walk back to car(path would continue elsewhere) and his shoes might not be that good for this hike along asphalt road.
As I had walked most of the distance last night I got there in reasonable time. The path had been mostly climb uphill making me even more happy I had chosen the taxi last night. This would have been rough going last night...
32(Houshouji, Shoukannon) seems to have statue of Kannon in a boat though seems I missed it(urgh. Should have spent more time searching it but forgot to check my notes). It seems to believed that Kannon came to this world in a boat shaped rock nearby.
However to my defence it COULD be that the said statue is actually at the top of steep detour I spotted. One hour trip there didn't seem what I should be taking though. I did wanted to make it in time to Tokyo and this was early day. No quarantee there's no unexpected delays.
Maybe one day I'll get back here and see it...
Temple was first one where one could not go to Kannon hall with shoes on. ARGH! My shoes are bit of tough ones to take off and put on. Definitely want to find easier ones for the Shikoku trip.
With this I started to head toward the next temple and driver decided he would go there as well since he had time. Well 7km or so so I should get there in about a hour. Is he planning to tag along whole day? No reason he has to but of course if he wants it...Unexpected company and bit of a funny way of traveling with him in a car and me following behind on my foot :D
Again fairly uneventful trip crossing several towns. In one I passed past elementary school and high school that were next to each other. Notable difference being lot more room around to play with in elementary school. Fairly typical school play area compared to Finland as well. Wonder what kids in Japanese high schools do in their breaks?
As I had person waiting for me at the temple I kept going on almost non stop except for moments to take a photograph. I figured that I'll take a breather at the temple and didn't want to keep him waiting that long.
As a result I got to the #33(Kikusuiji, Shoukannon) fairly early.
Yet another legend involving supernatural powers. Long time ago it is said there was group of thieves roaming around. One day they tried to rob a monk(why? Monks don't generally have money with them...). With help of Buddhist powers it is said the robbers were paralyzed temporarily. Impressed by this they converted into Buddhism right away and built this temple.
Gyouki is said to be that monk...So this would make this story about 1300 years old or so.
Curiously main hall and inscription place were inside same building. Usually they are in different buildings.
Lunchtime was approaching so I asked if he would be interested in joining for a dinner. I found restaurant closeby(bit too close but didn't find anything suitable further away) so he headed there and I would be doing the few km's on my feet.
Had nice fish meal(first in this trip). Restaurant staff did the usual questions. When we left he pointed out to dove nests at the top of front doors. Seems that is told to bring in luck. Well at least nice sight if nothing else :D
And I realized I had no means of notifying the guy that was waiting me I would be likely being late from estimated time of arrival. Again not wanting to make him wait unneedlessly I vowed to try to keep rests at the minimum. 10km+ plus what I had walked since restaurant without breaks would be bit rough though...
And then I saw sign that said turn left when google map said go forward...Eyeballing map I realized it's almost certainly straight path to the temple through Mount Happu.
Now what to do? If I follow the main road I will get to the temple without problems but it would be longer way and almost certainly less interesting visually than the mountain path. But mountain path could take even longer if path is rough. Well in the end didn't take too much for me to say ”the mountain path”. It's the traditional route and it's a mountain path. I love hiking those and apart from the falling to the stream it's been best parts of this trip.
Reaching to the temple felt so good. However before heading to the temple proper I had to detour a bit and go to the parking lot to inform person waiting there I had arrived. He had been expecting me to come by road. Not from behind.
Getting to Tokyo I was fairly exhausted. I had considered going to Yoyogi park(my favourite park in Tokyo) but with heavy bags, tired and small rain I decided to skip it. Instead I dropped off to Book off in Akihabara to get couple light novels(small and compact) and then headed to the station near friends home. I was way ahead schedule but with books(if I had something with me it was books!) and didn't feel like walking around too much so just settled in for reading.
And discovered there's time limit you can be in stations before ticket gates accept your card. Whoops! Luckily station staff could sort it out. Had been reading inside gates as it was warmer than rapidly cooling outside.
When friend arrived we spent nice evening chatting and updating news before finally hitting bed ready to departure next day.
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