Day 11: 88 Temples (25,26) - Nahari

Umamenoki Inn was very good to us.  Realizing we could not sit on tatami at a low table, they set up our dinner and breakfast in the cafe part of their establishment.  We did have to shuffle around in the outdoor slippers through the driveway to get there.


After breakfast we started walking.  This side of the cape is more populated but it looks quite depressed.  It just looks like a long time since something new has been build and maintenance on houses is not really a thing in Japan.  Houses in Japan are like a pair of pants, when they wear out you tear it down and build a new one.  Unfortunately this area is losing population and so a lot of houses are just decaying.


It was a beautiful day.  There were much fewer Henro signs than other days but it was pretty hard to get lost on the narrow flat strip between the water and the mountain.


Temple 25 was in the middle of a village just off the harbor.  It had a set of steep old stairs but the main temple was made of concrete.  It apparently burned down and was rebuilt.  25 probably is the least attractive temple so far.


The way to Temple 26 was along the coast and the a turn straight up the mountain.  It a steep 180m up and then back down.


4km later there was a burger spot and we had lunch.  Burger, fries and a drink.


After lunch we walked for a little over 2 hours more and caught the bus the last 9km.  We got to our ryokan just after 3pm which is a good finishing time.


We relaxed a bit, bathed and walked back toward the train station to find a restaurant.  Our ryokan isn't doing food tonight.  The one tomorrow isn't either.  It's ok in both cases because the towns are big enough to have something nearby.  We ended up at a place that specialized in chicken wings and chicken.  We got 6 wings each, a plate of chicken karage, rice and a couple of beers.


To get the second beers I ordered from the lady who was with her family at the next table.  She was familiar enough with the lady doing the cooking she brought them.  The family had a laugh.


On the way back we stopped at Lawson - first one we've seen in quite a while - and got some dessert and snacks for tomorrow.  I got a coffee as my coffee levels are very low here.


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