It took 4 trains (including one bullet train) to cover the 350km to get from Kansai airport to Uwajima which is where we commenced our journey on foot.
By the time we reached Temple 41 "Ryukoji" it was after 5pm and the office "nokyojo" was closed, so we couldn't get our stamp "nokyo" in my book "nokyocho" and on Josh's scroll. We met a henro named Wilson from Hong Kong who had just made it in time to get his calligraphy stamp. He was running out of time on his pilgrimage and had decided to rent a car and drive the rest of the route to get all 88 Temples visited before returning home.
As dusk fell we realized that there was nowhere to stay, so we set up our tent in the Henro hut (a gazebo structure nearish the temple that was constructed as a rest spot for pilgrims).
Temple 41 is situated on a steep hillside and requires walking up many, many stairs. It is a fairly rustic, old structure with beautiful vistas of the village and farm fields.
As legend goes Kukai (the monk) met an old man carrying rice here and believed he was a transfigured rice god. This inspired him to build a temple here. The original Inari belief was that people would pray for an abundant harvest but now they pray here for prosperity in their businesses.
We did not pass near enough to a konbini during our 10km walk from Uwajima station and because we were trying to get to Temple 41 before 5pm, didn't buy any food to get us through the night. Fortunately an elderly man had some type of minimal store near the temple and we bought 3 oranges, a packet of rice crackers and cookies which were our dinner.
Grateful to be on the journey again and for being cosy and safe in our tent with our warm, ultralight camping gear
Onwards and upwards!
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