Day 16: the start of the Tokaido

I am sitting in the common room of banana hammock now, my bag repacked, water reservoir topped up and stomach full.


Today won't be an extremely challenging walk.  I will take the train downtown to the start of the Tokaido road in Osaka.  From there it will be 9-10km to my next guest house, and Kyoto in 3 days.

Once there I will stay for a week to explore before setting out on the next leg to Nagoya.

I am once again walking.  We will see where this new route takes me.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beginning my Goshuin collection; Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine

Image
One of my goals on this hike is to visit many temples and shrines along my route. In part to simply observe their beauty and appreciate the culture, but also to participate in a small way by praying and collecting Goshuin (temple stamps). My first stop of many to this end was at Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine, the largest shrine in Osaka. This is where you must cleanse yourself before entering the shrine grounds. Sumiyoshi Taisha is noteworthy not only for it's size, but also it's iconic and magnificent bridge leading up to the main shrine ground: The water is brimming with turtles and koei . Most shrines and temples have a small office where you can purchase a book to collect your Goshuin in, called a Goshuin-cho. Larger shrines and temples will have goshuin-cho that are unique to their grounds. I am very pleased that I was able to explore these grounds, pray here and then receive my first Goshuin! I am looking forward to collecting many more along m
Read more

Day 50: Festivities in Toyohashi

Image
Yesterday I left Gamagori and continued on my route to Toyohashi, arriving late in the afternoon. I had booked a room a few days in advance, and paid a frustrating premium for it. The room wasn't fancy, it was just a standard business hotel, but it seemed to be one of the few options even remotely close to my price range. One bed for me, and one for my pack. Dropping my pack in my room, I returned to the street in search of food only to find the once unremarkable street in from of my hotel now bustling with men in LED vests directing traffic and blocking off roadways. It was a dramatic scene, and I didn't know what to make of it. At the corner a police car with lights flashing, and an automated message blaring over the loudspeaker but meaning nothing to me. Not knowing what to make of things, or having any particular direction in mind, I followed the flow of pedestrians, which had now appeared in droves. The flow lead not far, down the block to a left, then a qui
Read more