🌸 Noire Henro-San: Matsuyama

Matsuyama City Station is an important hub connecting cities and towns on Shikoku island and beyond.

To be human

T

he world is not humane just because it is made by human beings, and it does not become humane just because the human voice sounds in it, but only when it has become the object of discourse.

However much we are affected by the things of the world, however deeply they may stir and stimulate us, they become human for us only when we can discuss them with our fellows…

We humanize what is going on in the world and in ourselves only by speaking of it, and in the course of speaking of it we learn to be human.

-Hannah Arendt

Around the city

I caught up with Celine, an ohenro who is walking the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage backwards. She is truly earning triple blessings for her endeavor! I wish her well.

Pilgrim’s Delight

Matsuyama is the capital of Ehime prefecture. It is also the largest city on Shikoku island with just over 500 thousand people.

There is a lot of greenery.

The city is known for its onsen (hot springs), the oldest and most well-known in Japan.

Matsuyama Castle is a popular attraction for locals and visitors.

Eight Shikoku pilgrimage temples are in Matsuyama:

• Temples 46 Jorui-ji, 47 Yasaka-ji, and 48 Sairin-ji
  
• Temples 49 Jodo–ji, 50 Hanta-ji, and 51 Ishite-ji

Sprinkled around the city close to each other, several temples can be visited in one day.

• Temples 52 Taisan-ji, and 53 Enmyo-ji

These are the last two in Matsuyama.

52 Taisan-ji

Temple of the Big Mountain

The entrance from the pilgrimage trail to the temple is quite long.

Notice the stone steps leading to the first gate!

Keep walking through the trees to get to more steps.

The main temple plaza is reached by climbing up more steps. And through another gate.

Now I am leaving temple 52 on this rainy day. I am used to this by now. The overcast day is pleasant. It provides the perfect cover for thinking and planning for a few more days ahead.

53 Enmyo-ji

Temple of the Ring of Light

Leaving temple 53…

… and Matsuyama City.

See you next time in Imabari, still in Ehime prefecture!

Baadaye and Mata Ne

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.

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

T52-53