Anyway meeting was agreed for Tokushima(where I was yesterday) so back to train and off we go. Unlike yesterday I got seat to sit on. Guess that since festivalities begin lot later there's not yet such a rush to get there.
We ended up going to three places. First we went to former German war prisoner camp. During first world war Japan ended up having bunch of german prisoners. Some of them were here in Shikoku. And the guy running the station was rather unusual fellow in that he thought every human deserved to be treated with dignity regardless of country. He ran the camp in unusually free style with prisoners allowed to work to earn money, buy stuff, mix with locals, were allowed to practice sport and music, theater etc. Seems they made quite a few friends with locals and there was mutual teaching of each others culture. When it was time to return them 63 of them decided to stay in Japan. And nowadays the POW camp is actually in memory of GOOD RELATIONS of German and Japan. Now that's rather unusual POW camp!
Interesting exhibit anyway. And interesting how many Japanese visitors were wearing German styled clothing.
After this we headed toward most famous shrine on Tokushima(so he says. Can't verify nor deny that claim. Looked quite big anyway
Once this was done we went to see something that concerns me in about 1.5 years plus some more. First temple of Shikoku pilgrimage.
Now few months ago I got rather grand idea. Not sure I CAN do it but provided budget and vacation is sorted out I would like to try it. There's this pilgrimage of 88 temples around the Shikoku(island of Japan I'm in now) in memory of buddhist priest Kukai(also known as Kobo Daishi). This covers distance of bit over 1100km and I would like to walk it through. Yes. Walk. As in with my feet. No busses, no trains, no bike, just with the foot.
As I said. I don't know if I CAN do it. Lots of people do it(though most do it by bus but I would like to try it on the old fashioned way. For one since I'm not buddhist there's less spiritual reason for me to do it so if I make it easier physically...what's the point? For me large interest in this is going to be the physical effort. Can I do it? That's what I want to find out! Plenty other reasons too but for me if I don't do it by walking might just as well do something else instead.
On one room there was stuff on sale and I couldn't resist but got big picture of the Daishi-sama(as Kobo Daishi is also refered. Sama being very polite name suffix). Hopefully I can get it intact to Finland. Was stressed out to handle it carefully.
Funny event happened with the purchase though. The older women we talked about basically kept talking to the guy with me. Not TO me. Despite me having talked in Japanese. When I also paid it she gave 300 yen back and in lowish voice said something to him. Caught "keep it secret". Secret to whom? Me? I'm stading right there :D Seems she gave me 300 yen discount.
Not quite sure what was going on but she was friendly enough that I don't think it was dislike of foreigners. Maybe just bit nervous with talking to them? Maybe she wasn't sure my Japanese wouldn't be 100% up to task and her english wasn't that good so she took advantage of Japanese as a interpretor so to speak. Weird experience. Maybe some might find that bit offending but I honestly don't think she was doing this out of hostility(you don't give about 16% discounts if you are hostile for one thing...) so I just took it in good humour. And I did find the whole thing amusing :D
With this(and guidance from her. One time I did get her direct comments to me) we headed for another part of temple where they sold maps etc. I got myself guide book and maps. Both in Japanese though first they were trying to sell English ones. Took a bit "yes I want the Japanese version" but then again I can't really blame them ;) English ones WOULD be more easier to read but good practice. Guide book is actually tougher one but don't need that during the walk and maps don't look too hard to read in Japanese so there's that. And I can get the english ones later(new edition btw coming next month. Another reason to not buy the English version now).
Can't wait for this one!
With this it was time to get back to station to head back for Takamatsu for grande finale of the festival there. Except drive took too long after all! Traffic was murder. So I had to wait for next train 45 minutes or so but luckily not an issue. I simply went and looked for some Awaodori dances instead! Got fairly good position to watch one of the less formal dancing events going on.
Alas time was still too quickly done and I had to head toward Takamatsu(well not that I HAD but wanted to see the grande finale of festival there). On train trip approaching last stop before Takamatsu plan NEARLY changed. They mentioned Riritsu. Now that's name of famous garden I had wanted to go to see but didn't have time. But sounded like this would be closeby so was REALLY tempted to get off train, find the park, see it and then head toward central park bit to north but oomphed and aamphed bit too long so missed the chance.
Well come the pilgrimage I'll be passing through this town again. Maybe I'll see it then!
But I had read about a parade so went looking for one. And on road there had been parade-looking preparations(and quite a lot of police. Never seen so many polices before in Japan!). Sure enough there was this long long parade going on. Seems I missed about 30 minutes or so.
Wonder what that is represented? Btw I think girl next to the mascot is giving guidance...At least I saw her seem to say something to the mascot before it stopped/started moving.
After about 2.5h parade(of which I watched about 2h) it was over and my legs were STTIIIIFFF! I didn't move around all that much except couple times I gave position to shorter people(in particular anybody with kids) when I noticed there were those. I can get good look generally from even bit further away(being tall does have advantages though sometimes it's bloody inconvenient here) so my legs felt like carved of tree!
With main stage seeming to have quieted and not feeling like buying anything I headed for the hotel. Fun day and with this Shikoku part is also over. Tomorrow I'll head for Kyoto. Holiday is about halfway over soon :( Ah well. All good things end and end of one holiday means just that you can look forward to the next one!
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