🌸 Noire Henro-San: Rainy Night in Hiwasa

Illuminated Temple 23 on a rainy night.

Night time

L

ast post, I checked into a nice hostel in town. It is also a bar. The establishment is a friendly, hip place. It’s open to everyone – ohenros and people who are not on the trail. The lovely couple who own the place are creative types, both knowledgeable and helpful.

It rained all night. My mind was occupied with Golden week and just how I was going to handle it. The gentle rain distracted me in a good way.

The night was surreal.

Listen and Look

This is what I do while standing on the deck:

Look closely at the raindrops landing on the surface of the water.

Click on video:

On this rainy night, frogs, crickets, and other night creatures have their say, even when it rains.

As an ohenro, I don’t have much opportunity to see much at night. It is early to bed and early rising for me. The routine helps me maximize my time on the trail.

Tonight, the views are sparkly and eye catching. This is a rare chance to see an illuminated temple during an ethereal rainy night… right outside my window. It is not big city lights, just mountain town lights in nature. Right now, that may be even better. I am taking it all in.

I don’t want to fall asleep tonight.

In the morning

It is early and still raining. The air is fresh. The misty fog rises from the forest like smoke.

Listen to the soothing sound of rain falling on the deck.

Click on the video:

Morning mist and fog cover the inlet, too.

Then, the fog rolls out and around the temple.

It slowly dissipates, leaving a clear view of all things.

I wonder what it’s like to wake up every morning to the sight of the temple emerging out of the misty fog on that mountain. I would bow in gratitude, then reach for the sky.

This is my last day in Tokushima prefecture. So far, I walked 155 kilometers from Temple 1, Ryozenji to Temple 23, Yakuo-Ji.

This first dojo on Shikoku 88 pilgrimage is an awakening as promised.

See you at the next dojo: Kochi prefecture.

🌸 Asceticism  (Shugyo dojo)

• Temples 24–39 (16 temples)

Baadaye and Mata ne

Shirley J 🌸

During the spring of 2024, I began a pilgrimage in Japan where I am walking 1200 kilometers or 720 miles on the Shikoku trail from Temple 1 Ryōzenji to Temple 88 Ōkuboji and beyond. Read my original announcement here.

I am excited, and I am here, still walking. And just know this, I will return to tell the tale!