Matsuyama

I landed on Shikoku at the Port of Matsuyama. As i was totally powered out by moving on day by day, i stayed there for three nights to get some slight rest and organised again. I finally decided to skip Hiroshima, because i didn't care for the atomic bomb memorial, and I've already seen some Toori in the water, so no need for more. Being a rather busy business town not so different from any other middle sized Japanese city, Matsuyama has an impressive castle on a hilltop just in the towncenter. Structure and interior date back from 1850 something, so it stand a closer look too. (Most of the rebuilt in the 60ies castles i have seen so far didn't).

By the Botchan Ressha, a former steam train now running on electricity i went over to Dogo Onsen, just on the town outskirts and took a splash in the Honkan, where once more the structure of the historic facilities remains up today.

But the main thing on Shikoku is the 88 temples pilgrimage, making a tour all around the island. In fact i thought about doing the whole thing by cycle, but despite being on the same height as places like Tel Aviv or Malaga, this part of Japan is rather cold at that time of the year, so i chose the itinerary I am following now. Nonetheless as I am here, i'd like to get a glance of the path, so i am following parts of it by foot. In Matsuyama, i went from Temple No. 48 (Sairin-Ji) to 51 (Ishite-ji). Most of the time, i had to walk along roads with heavy traffic. But it's really impressing how the atmosphere changes once you enter the temple area. The structures itselves might not be so vast and impressing like those let's say in Kyoto (no queing all along the gardens) but the feeling is all so different.

Most pilgrims equip themselves with a kitschy white shirt, a hat, a walking stick, a bracelet and a ticket from the next travel agency, to carry them by bus from one temple to the next, doing the route in some 10 days. The few serious once, doing actually the whole way by foot, don't need any of these. A white scarf or something similar is all those i met on the road wore.Next day i will take the bus to Saijo, more temples there, and as i didn't make it to the Sapporo brewery on Kyushuu (!) i will visit Asahi's here.

Stayed at: Superhotel Matsuyama
Matsuyama Fotos