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2024 Saijo Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)
Today's Weather
Mostly cloudy 22-27℃
Shikoku Pilgrimage + Seto Inland Sea Cycling Tour
DAY 26:
On the 23rd day of the official start of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the 'Ehime Bodhi Dojo' was successfully completed, and half of the extra 20 temples were also completed. As the saying goes, 'A journey of a hundred miles is half done at ninety.' There are things I would never have done before, but now I am challenging my limits. After completing the nearly 1,000-kilometer pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago and the Road to the End of the World in Spain last year (2023), impulsiveness is no longer a mindset but a driving force to keep moving forward. Faith makes one braver, more humble, and more loving. This is what Kobo Daishi taught me on this pilgrimage journey. Knowing that you have so much is the true beginning of wealth.
Visiting Sacred Sites:
◎ 60th Yokomineji Temple (Difficult)
Elevation 750 meters, six hours of hiking up and down, Inari Torii
◎ 61st Ko-onji Temple
Modern architecture, enshrines the deity of safe childbirth and child-rearing
◎ 62nd Hojuji Temple
◎ 63rd Kichijoji Temple, Achievement Stone
◎ 64th Maegamiji Temple
Accommodation: Hotel Trend Saijo, Saijo City
Today's cycling distance: 41 kilometers
Total cycling distance: 1,597 kilometers
Mount Tenguyama
#cherryblossom2024
Address: 2 Chome Tenguyama, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0012, Japan.
Highlights: Mount Tenguyama, a prominent peak overlooking the charming city of Otaru in Hokkaido, Japan, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. As I embarked on the journey to its summit, I felt a rush of excitement, eager to discover the wonders that awaited me.
The ascent up Mount Tenguyama was invigorating, with well-marked trails winding through lush forests and offering glimpses of panoramic vistas along the way. The crisp mountain air filled my lungs as I hiked, and the sounds of nature surrounded me, creating a sense of tranquility and connection to the natural world.
Reaching the summit of Mount Tenguyama was a truly rewarding experience. From the observation deck, I was treated to sweeping views of Otaru, the shimmering Sea of Japan, and the majestic Hokkaido landscape stretching out before me. It was a moment of awe and wonder, a reminder of the beauty and grandeur of the natural world.
#Japan #Hokkaido #awesometrip
In search of autumn hues in Ehime, I trekked through the mountains for a day
It was autumn's welcome,
That brought us to Ehime,
To walk alongside the colors,
In the great mountains,
We found a secret haven,
A path where locals go to pray,
Climbing among ancient trees and old trails,
A memory of nature's long years,
Sunlight sifts through the leaves,
Casting down on the leaf-strewn mountain path,
The world is dyed in a gradient by the red leaves,
As if colored in a manga,
Filled with fantasy.
Maple leaves and ginkgo are the protagonists of autumn,
A red and yellow pair within the temple grounds.
A Shiba Inu treads over the carpet of red leaves,
Making a rustling sound with its steps,
Perhaps this is the voice of nature itself～
📍Saizenji Temple in the western mountains of Ehime
This is a very niche spot we discovered this time, very close to Imabari where we disembarked. It happened to be deep autumn, and the colors in the mountains were enriched, so we decided to come here to experience it.
The Saizenji Temple in the western mountains is deep in the mountains, and it takes 20-30 minutes to drive there from the city, making it a very secluded and niche place. Only upon arrival did we realize how truly beautiful it is, like a fairyland.
🌟Highlights:
1⃣️Self-service vegetable hut
At the entrance to the mountains, there's a local's hut with lots of vegetables and fruits, all clearly priced, likely homegrown, so very affordable, like 200 yen for a big bag of persimmons. Hikers usually take some on their way down, just leave the money in the box, very Japanese~
2⃣️Monks
If one wishes to experience the meaning of ascetic practice, you can rent clothes here, so it's common to capture 'monks' climbing the mountain for training. However, it's impolite to take photos directly. This is a beautiful scene at Saizenji Temple.
3⃣️Mountain trails
The secret paths through the ancient forest wind upwards, offering many scenic spots for photography along the way.
4⃣️Temples on the mountain
Upon reaching the temple, there's still a climb, flanked by red leaves, making it a particularly photogenic spot, as if it's a path of devotion.
5⃣️Surroundings of the temple
The temple is enveloped by red leaves and ginkgo, find the right angle and you can capture the feeling of a world bathed in red, along with the Japanese-style architecture, very charming~
The last maple leaf in Ehime
The original plan to see the red leaves in the deep mountain valley of Oda has already fallen, so we decided to go to Xishan Xinglong Temple temporarily. Climbing up the steps, we saw two climbers wearing straw hats and robes, we followed their footsteps, as if we could discover the secrets of Xinglong Temple with them. The mountain is not high or low, the weather is not cold or hot, and hiking is very comfortable. We came a few days late, a few days ago the maple leaves were red half the sky, today the fallen leaves are all over the river. This is a very niche maple viewing place, no tourists, only a few locals, like climbing a small mountain near their own home, walking around casually, feeling happy and relaxed. We also saw a unmanned shop on the way (Figure 9), a large bag of persimmons for 500 yen (about 25 yuan), grown by local farmers, fresh and delicious, you can feel the simple and kind folk customs.
Although we missed the best maple viewing season, the transparent autumn color here still surprised us. We saw the red maple hidden in the corner of the temple, the ginkgo with golden glow, the graceful tree shadows projected on the walls and stone steps, the flowers and leaves scattered all over the courtyard, the starlight shot out between the eaves and the tree gaps, and the cute Akita dog... All these made me start to understand the beauty of the deep autumn. There is no need to flock to Tokyo or Kyoto to see the red leaves, the red leaves here are not inferior, because fewer people have a better experience.
The way home is long and short, the long is the distance, the short is the mood. The five-day and four-night trip to Ehime is over, and I can finally go home. On the first day of each trip, I would say: This trip is so long, it's endless! On the last day, I would say: Is it over? It's too fast, I'm still not satisfied! Especially this trip to Ehime, I can feel the civilization and prosperity of the modern city, and also experience the tranquility and beauty of the countryside.
I made a family travel plan, with my wife and two children, to come to Ehime again at the turn of autumn and winter next year, ride a bicycle through the Seto Inland Sea along the island wave road, take a tide-watching boat to enjoy the whirlpool of the Kaido Strait, climb the Matsuyama Castle of the Edo period to overlook the beautiful scenery of the whole city, wait for a beautiful sunset at the nearest station to the sea in the world (Shimotani Station), go to Xishan Xinglong Temple to enjoy the last autumn color, and Ehime orange, sea bream rice... The trip to Ehime is a trip that makes you fall in love with Ehime.
Recommended Attractions at Popular Destinations
Popular Restaurants in Saijo