An early day

Started off this day, waking up early and walking to the bus stop. This bus was over an hour long ride.

The 2nd bus I got on was the wrong one, but still made it to my destination.

Temple 41 – Ryūkōji

Initially, this was a place for the rice God as part of the Inari belief. I’m going to have to read up on that. But Kūkai, who established the temples I am visiting, saw a man carrying rice, thought to be the Rice God, and built a temple to him there. Now, it is a place where people pray for prosperity for their business.

Small temple at the top of a hill.

I climbed over another hill and back down to Temple 42 – Butsumokuji.

This one was about an hour walk away.

This temple was built after Kūkai carved a Dainichi Nyorai statue in a tree and placed a jem between its eyes.

It used to be a temple people would pray for prosperity at home, but now it’s for the memory of lost pets.

I offered to take their picture as a couple and they asked to have a picture with me.

I was walking to my bus because the next hike was 17 km over a mountain, and a farmer stopped me, offering me a ride. I asked if he had any grandchildren, and he said 3, so I gave him 3 Gritty stickers for them.

I wasn’t expecting to make Temple 43 – Meisekiji today.

It was established in the 6th century. It was called daybreak and stone. A goddess would carry large rocks all night here, then disappear when the sun would come up.