Last November I conducted the Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage.
This time, I came to Saigoku (the Western region of Japan) to visit 4 temples in weekend for the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
Thirty-three temples are located in as many as six prefectures such as Gifu, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Osaka and Hyogo.
I departed Tokyo for Osaka by Shinkansen (bullet train) early morning at 7:20 pm.
I had pork sandwich for breakfast.
Last November, I also started the Pilgrimage from here.
Bus departed from here, the same place.
First, we went to No. 3 Kokawadera.
This temple is located in Wakayama Prefecture.
I don’t remember visiting Wakayama; this could be my first trip to Wakayama.
For Shikoku Pilgrimage, we followed the number of Temple; however, for Shikoku, I was told we don’t need to follow number.
This temple is huge and beautiful.
Main temple looks far left.
This is the Main Temple.
Kawazu Zakura is beautiful.
The town is nicely decorated with Hina Ningyo.
Every 3 March, Hina Ningyo is decorated to wish for health and happiness for daughters.
Hina Ningyo is passed down to generations.
This must be antique Hina Ningyo.
We had a lunch box on bus for lunch.
No. 2 Kongoji (Kimiidera)
We climbed many steep stairs to Main Temple.
Main Temple
The ceiling is decorated with celestial maidens.
There is a Pagoda.
We could specially view the largest wooden Kannon today.
I hope you are blessed, too.
Before we check-in hotel, we stopped by to see amazing nature – strange stones: Hashigui Iwa.
It does look like as if these are foundations of bridge.
Hashigui means foundations of bridge and iwa means stones.
Amazing and beautiful.
We reached to the tip of Kii Peninsular to check-in at Kushimoto Royal Hotel.
A room is spacious.
I could see sunset from my room before dinner.
Dinner is nice.
Fresh, delicious and the right portion – not too little, not too much.
Continued enjoying local food at the room: ponkan orange, ume (Japanese apricot) and Kinkan (kumquat) juice, and water.
Wakayama is nice place to visit.
I’m Japanese; but there are still many places to be explored!
sonokotchi 