Breakfast at Business Hotel Mild. I did NOT eat the natto (lower left). Connor did make a good effort.Climbing back into the mountains to get to Temple 65.
We had at least two temples on our schedule today. It was a matter of what time we would reach our lodging for the evening. We reached our first temple around 8:45 a.m. We tend to like the larger mountain temples. They’re just more temple-y.
Hondo – Sankakuji (Temple 65 – “Triangle Temple”). It named the Triangle Temple after a small triangle pond in the temple yard.Daishido – SankakujiSankakujiTemple FountainHondo details – SankakujiHondo – SankakujiHondo details – SankakujiSmall shrine at the center of the triangular pond.Sanmon/Temple Bell – Sankakuji
While I was waiting for Connor to finish taking photographs, a gentleman came up an struck up a conversation with me in the temple’s rest hut. He was from Taiwan and attempting to complete the second half of the pilgrimage. He had visited Temples 1 through 44, including the Bekkaku temples, last year after Japan had re-opened and was taking a month off of work to hopefully visit the rest. We had seen him back at the Business Ryokan Komatsu two days ago. He had lived in the States for a year for work and spoke excellent English.
Vincent had recently walked a portion of the pilgrimage with his college-age daughter and, as he didn’t speak any Japanese, was happy to have a little English conversation. We fell into walking with him after we discovered the mountain trail we had been planning to take was already behind us and we were already on the road to the next bekkaku temple.
Connor and VincentLooking inland. The lake below us has likely been created by a dam. There is only one undammed river in Japan. Senryuji (Bekkaku Temple 13 – “Hermit Dragon Temple”). The temple sits atop the cliff. We were unsure what type of work they were doing below.Hondo and Daishido – Senryuji. Senryuji has traditionally been called the “Koyasan for Woman” as female pilgrims have always been allowed to visit with no restrictions. Koyasan refers to the temples on Mt. Koya west of Osaka which was founded by Kukai and where his body is interred. SenryujiSenryujiHaving our Family Mart-bought lunches across from Senryuji.Back into the mountains for a shortcut. It was a tough climb and I’m sure Vincent started regretting following us about halfway up, but everyone was much happier when we discovered taking it had cut almost an hour walking time as compared to walking on the road. Vincent admitted that, if he had been walking by himself, he would have stuck to the road. The mountain path aren’t really “dangerous,” per se, but there are some definitely some steep drops and tricky footwork avoiding spraining an ankle. They are not “family friendly” trails.Taking the pilgrim trail toward Bekkaku Temple 14Vincent and Connor between the bamboo and the cedars. After Bekkaku Temple 14, Vincent caught a bus back into town. We have no doubt that we’ll see him again.Let me share with you the joys of taking the Horikiri Pass trail shortcut. Foot and football sized rocks in an ankle-twisty-turny step parade from top to bottom. It saved some time, but we’re not sure it was worth it. It was a miserable path.Free carTsubakido/Jofukuji (Bekkaku Temple 14 – “Camilla Hall/Temple of Endless Good Fortune”). Couples with fertility problem pray at this temple. Kukai visited this temple to pray for the end of sickness. From where his staff stuck into the ground, a camilla sprout emerged. Daishido – JofukujiJofukujiJofukujiJofukujiJofukuji
We’re staying at a “Henro House” tonight. A Henro House is pretty much a no-frills/low-frills accommodation. There were no meals included with this accommodation and no nearby convenience store, so we had to pick up lunch, dinner, tomorrow’s breakfast and lunch before we got to the foot of the mountain this morning. Ohenro House Moriso is pretty much five rooms – two bedrooms, shower/laundry, bathroom, and entry/kitchen. While Connor and I are sharing one room, we were pleased to see the other guest was Frenchman Terry whom we had last seen back at Temple 48 where Connor forget to get his book stamped. It’s nice to spend some time catching up.
2023 Shikoku Henro 
It’s fun to follow your journey. Good luck to you both!
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