🌸 Noire Henro-San: Port to Enlightenment

Goddess of Mercy overlooks Urado Bay from Temple 32.

You remind me

Peonies were my mother’s favorite flowers. Our yard was full of them when I was a young girl. She is no longer walking here on this earth. Now, I like to think she is a flower among the stars.

Walk with me

Blue skies over farmland in Kochi prefecture creates a most beautiful view.

The farmers and gardeners are very efficient. Nothing in these spaces appears to be wasted.

Eventually the walk leads to a very nice neighborhood.

Here is a resting spot next to this river.

The throughway leads to the temple.

Click on video:

32 Zenjibu-Ji

Temple Of The Ch’an Master’s Peak

Closeup of Goddess of Mercy standing near the steps to the temple.

The main hall and other temple buildings.

A Jizo rests on the temple fountain.

Here is Buddha’s footprint beneath the bell tower. Jizo statues stand nearby.

The sea is visible from everywhere on the temple grounds.

Ferry ride across the bay ⛴️

It was a hot walk from temple 32!

To get to temple 33, the ferry must be taken across Urado Bay.

The ferry boat generally departs at ten minutes after the hour. The trip from Tanezaki Port to Nagahama Port takes about 10 minutes. The next ferry departs at 12:10 pm

Ohenros ride the ferry for free.

As the time neared, some local people gathered at the ferry gate.

I was relieved that I had an option to ride the ferry. The idea of walking around, through, or over the bay to get to the other side was not appealing, at all!

Click on video:

Everybody, off the ferry boat!

Temple 33 Sekkei-Ji

The Temple Of The Snowy Cliff

The town, Nagahama, is a busy, prosperous place.

The walk from the ferry dock to temple 33 is slightly more than a kilometer. My feet were aching. I just wanted to get there so I could take off my backpack and sit down.

As I got closer to the temple, I saw that the steps were right off the street! It looked like a typical city park entrance and not the way into a “sacred” place.

Yes, that is a hydration station right next to the temple steps.

Prayers at the main hall.

That is a nice stone fountain.

The bell tower.

This was a long day. Can’t you tell?

See you next time.

Baadaye and Mata Ne (またね)

Shirley J 🌸

This and several posts this summer will chronicle my pilgrimage in Japan where I am walking the 1200 kilometer-long Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Read my announcement here.

T32-33