I was up fairly early and wandered round for a bit before buying my combination ticket. It came with a brief map and a route. I went into the garden first, thinking that I should at least get some photos before the crowds arrive. It was enjoyable, with dragonflies, lizards, spiders and lilies.
I didn’t go into the treasure house, since the sun was shining and I didn’t wish to waste it. I went round the Sanbutsudo, but one can’t photograph inside. There is a huge dragon on the ceiling inside, which is said to roar back if you clap two wooden blocks under it. I suspect it was just an echo!
Toshogu was already full with bus loads of tourists. I should have come here first, I think, and ignored the instructions on my ticket. Worse, many of the tourists were school children on a school outing. They had all been given the task of talking to a foreigner in English, and I seemed to be the only one around. Perhaps I need a sign for such occasions – “work in progress, unable to talk.” I talked to some groups, but the light was fading, and the crowds growing. I only took photos of the details, and didn’t manage to get any of the overall view. I didn’t pay the extra 520 yen just to see a sleeping cat and a tomb. I’ve been in before.
Outside, I went towards Rinnoji temple, and found a seat to eat lunch on. However, seats are placed there for the benefit not of hungry hitchhikers, but for nicotine drug addicts. I had to move away.
Rinnoji was quieter – I guess Toshogu is the famous shrine in Nikko. Also, I was tiring. I don’t think I slept very well last night. Perhaps it was too hot.
I bought some provisions for the long journey ahead, and started hitching. The lady who stopped for me had lived in Chester and Brighton for a year. She was on a drive with her mother collecting stamps – not the ones for envelopes, just rubber stamps. We drove through the world’s longest cedar avenue. I could have taken a few snaps, but I turned down the offer. I would have had to take lots, and that means time.
They treated me to some somen – cold soba (a type of noodle) that you dip in an egg/soy sauce mix. I think they got an extra stamp in their soba stamp calendar!
I was delivered to the Oya parking area. From there, I got two lifts up to the Kunimi services near Sendai, where I spent the night.