Temples 11-12, Kamiyama

Today was a hard day, but not as tough as it could have been. Temple 12 is on a mountain with a very steep ascent to reach it. I worried about whether I could walk from my hostel to Temple 11, to Temple 12, then to my next hostel,  before dark. 

The man at the hostel made me a superb breakfast of egg, boiled potatoes and ham, with tofu and a dip of lime juice and soy sauce, toast with cheese, ham and his homemade tomato puree, yogurt and half a banana, with a glass of milk. We had a chat via Google translate, then his wife generously gave me a lift to Temple 11.

The walk was very steep but beautiful, and shady. Forest paths with stone or wooden steps, with little Jizo statues. I really enjoyed it. It was good to be in mountains and off roads, and very quiet, with just a few other Henros.

At Temple 12 I met American Kenny from breakfast yesterday and he offered me a lift in his taxi on the way to his hotel. He left me at a convenience store to pick up my dinner and on the way out, I chatted with an American and his Japanese wife.  They gave me a lift to my hostel, 3rd kind lift of the day and well before dark.

In the evening I went to the nearby Onsen - spa bath.Read more