Day 24

Weather: Sunny.

Started the day going to Unpenji Ropeway to get to Temple 66 (Unpenji) -the last temple in Ehime. Luckily, today was a clear day so I got to see the view.

There were many statues of unhappy or slightly unhinged men along the path to Unpenji. Not sure their significance, the write up about this temple in the guidebook says it was a place of learning.

Before heading back down there was a line marking the boundaries and I was about the start the Nirvana stage of the pilgrimage. Usagi-chan also found some more friends.

I’m not sure if it is because I know I’m now heading toward the end of this pilgrimage or if I actually got to a state of Nirvana, but the walk to Temple 67 (Daikoji) was peaceful and beautiful. Unfortunately, none of the photos I took show the beauty.

At Daikoji, the monk said that my prayer was well done, which surprised me. I’ve gotten really fast at doing the prayer as I have said it 67 x 2 = 134 times . Multiplied by 2 because it is said at the main temple and again at the Daishi temple.