We head to Kōchi, but with a layover in Kotohira to do some touring on the way.
 |  Our train itinerary for the 4-hour layover... |
Kotohira-gū is a Shinto shrine in the town of Kotohira in Kagawa, Japan. This shrine is patron of sea ship transport and sailors. Located at 521 metres (1,709 ft) halfway to the top of Mount Zōzu, the shrine stands at the end of a long path, with 785 steps to the main shrine and a total of 1368 steps to the inner shrine. Since the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573 AD), pilgrimages to the shrine became popular, and even today hundreds of visitors in a day climb the steps of Mount Zōzu. On the way to the shrine is a sake museum, souvenir stores, and stones with the names of donors carved in kanji script.
Our walk from the train station crosses the river...
Tim sits on the Coca-Cola bench leaving Gerri to do the shrine climb solo - previous climbs (and descents) have recently "did a number" on his back, so he figures on giving it a break today. Oh well, a lot of people watching was had from here for the next 90 minutes.
Gerri reaches the first shrine...
Steps, so many steps...
Donor stones line the path.
A stable of "holy" horses, unexpected, is encountered.
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Gerri - the shrine is patron to sea ship transport and sailors - why this big honking propellor is up here.
  |  The steps seem to never end... |
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Am I there yet?
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At the top, Gerri buys a "talisman" tag thingie and then gets to enjoy her peach she'd brought from Takamatsu.
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The descent begins (it was 90 minutes up, and then 45 minutes down)...
We then take our tour of the Sake Museum.
(reminder: click these photos below to enlarge them for easier reading)
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Back to Kotohira Train station...
Our chariot arrives...
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Now in Kōchi, we find some fine grub for dinner.
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