After leaving Temple 88 we took a bus and train to Tokushima, the city where Liz’s pilgrimage began.  We decided to treat ourselves to a couple of nights at the JR Hotel Clements, situated between the railway station and Starbucks. What more can you want!

  
When wearing the henro or pilgrim garb you quickly became used to being treated with respect and people went out of their way to help you. A gaijin is literally an ‘outside person’ or foreigner. Once we stopped wearing the henro gear I did notice that while people were generally helpful and respectful, we weren’t treated with the same deference. I kinda missed it!!

Next morning after coffee, a real, proper, delicious coffee at Starbucks we headed off to shop at Uniqlo, how exciting to shop at a Uniqlo in Japan.  

 

Next stop was a henro hut Liz had seen previously where we planned to leave our hats in the hope that someone would use them. That particular hut eluded us so we left them at a pilgrimage marker. Like her stick Liz was sad to say goodbye, it helped her through rough times, heat and rain. I hope someone found them and took them on another adventure. 

 

 
Lunch was pizza at a real cool cafe with funky animated pictures. 

   
[wpvideo rTVuFXVP] Off to the post office to send home trekking gear and make room for shopping

 

 
We had early dinner at a restaurant, very popular In Japan, where you choose and pay at a machine out the front, then eat inside.  I couldn’t go past the Pork!

   
   

   

Back to our room to tidy up and pack. Off to Hiroshima tomorrow