The sound of sizzling vegetables reverberated through the thin walls of Fumito’s family home, as the smells of a pre-dawn morning wafted towards my blocked nose. Slowly I rose, folding up the futon while stuffing my pack full of essentials for the long day ahead. Once in the kitchen, we feasted on grilled rice balls [...]
Archive for the ‘Shikoku hikes’ Category
Shikoku Chapter 4 – Mt. Ishizuchi 3rd take
Posted in Shikoku hikes, tagged hiking, Japan, Mt. Ishizuchi, Shikoku on May 8, 2012 | 1 Comment »
Shikoku Chapter 3 – Mt. Ishizuchi rematch
Posted in Shikoku hikes, tagged hiking, Hyakumeizan, Ishizuchi, Japan, Shikoku, yamabushi on September 28, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
The Ishizuchi ropeway is definitely past its prime. Rust and weeds threaten to take over the entire collection of run-down souvenir shops and the gondola structure itself. Obviously the vast amounts of cash made from whisking day-trippers up to the shrine are not being spent on upkeep of the facilities. I wanted to ask the [...]
Shikoku Chapter 2 – Mt. Ishizuchi
Posted in Shikoku hikes, tagged Hyakumeizan, Japan, Mt. Ishizuchi, Shikoku on September 17, 2010 | 1 Comment »
The lights came on around 4am, rousing the passengers of the packed bus bound for Matsuyama. We were still 30km from the city, but all of the commotion was for one lone passenger, yours truly, who wanted to be let off at a desolate bus stop in the middle of the expressway. The bus pulled [...]
Shikoku Chapter 1 – Mt. Tsurugi
Posted in Shikoku hikes, tagged hiking, Japan, Mt. Miune, Mt. Tsurugi, Shikoku on July 6, 2009 | 7 Comments »
With the heat of August behind me, I descend into the depths of Shikoku Island to explore the peaks towering over secluded Iya valley. My companion this time around was Bin-chan, a strong, witty Chinese girl who’d never been hiking in her life. Could she survive the 3-day, 25km journey unscathed? As the bus rolled [...]
