First Stop: Kotohira
Next, we set out to enjoy Golden Week on Shikoku. We made our way to Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture, and settled into these money digs:
My Birthday in Kotohira...posing with my parents who came so far!
Dad goes for a kinger in honour of #30...
...then he gets the sake in line for me. What a father!!
The next day we conquered Kompira-san, one of the most famous Shinto Shrines in Japan.
Many stairs later and lamps like this, we reached the top.
That's me, and below it's me and my parents with the pictures to prove it.
After our descent, we checked out this old Kabuki theatre. One of the oldest intact theatres in Japan. It really retains its atmosphere.
Kabuki, for those not in the know, followed the Elizabethan style (unknowingly of course) and staged their dramas with only male actors. Something about 17th, 18th century theatre seemed to really dig man on man action...
Exploring the Iya Valley
Later that afternoon we set off for the Iya Valley by train.
I must have said something funny.
We soon stopped and traded our train styles for a rental car. It was to mark my first time driving in Japan and my first time behind the wheel in 9 months. The challenge wasn't just driving on the opposite side of the road, but also the roads themselves. I had chosen to enjoy my first time driving in Japan on some of the most narrow roads I've ever seen. Well narrow that is for the type of traffic expecting to pass on them. It was steep mountain walls on one side, and on the other precipitous drops to the valley below. Good times!
Responsible 30 year old that I am now, I soon brought my family safely to our destination.
Our destination was Chiiori nestled in the mountains of the Iya Valley. Chiiori isn't typical accomodation. It's actually a volunteer project set up in hopes of infusing some new life in the surrounding community. This part of Shikoku faces the same reality as most other rural parts of Japan, and so many other rural areas around the world. It has a rapidly aging community with no young people seeing enough opportunity to stick around. Amid this quiet community, Chiiori is a positive, progressive space that operates as a small scale farm and stakeholder in the area.
We were completely pumped to get away from the city and finally hear the wind whistle through the trees and see the stars again.
Life at Chiiori was pretty simple. Comfortable, but simple. We ate some of the most delicious food I've had in all my time in Japan and we all slept in the same big room on futons. S helped with some of the cooking and I washed some dishes.
S even tried to help out catching the chickens that tried to get away!
Day Trip to the Vine Bridges
Mom chats with a local.
Our last morning at Chiiori. It's a gorgeous day and we really don't want to leave.
Back in the City - Tokushima-shi
Curious:
We check out the first few temples on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.
Along with our spiritual challenges, we are a little directionally challenged. We quickly lost our way and found ourselves at a shrine instead of a temple..."Hey, wait a minute, that's a Tori. This is Shinto action..."
So, we followed this father and son pilgrim pair for the rest of the way.
