Midsummer "Konpira Pilgrimage" Detox

I had some business in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, and since I had the morning free, I visited "Kotohira-gu Shrine" in the nearby town of Kotohira!

It is commonly known as the "Konpira Pilgrimage," and it is famous for having to climb a great many stone steps.

According to various guidebooks, the number of stone steps to the Main Shrine is

a staggering 785 steps!

And there are many very steep stone steps! Furthermore, there are basically no handrails!

I climbed them under the scorching sun.

Well, there was no need to rush, so I climbed slowly, but I was definitely out of breath and proceeded while taking frequent water and rest breaks. Since the Inter-High School Championships were being held in Shikoku, there were many high school students around, but someone in their 50s cannot keep up that same pace! I went at my own pace, but even so, my T-shirt and hand towel were soaked with sweat😆

Around the 500th step, there is a "Shiseido Parlour."
My "companions" lost their resolve there and retired, so from then on, I headed for the Main Shrine alone!

The "Gozen Yodan-zaka" slope leading to the Main Shrine has 133 steps! This is the final difficult section.

I managed to finish the climb and reached the "Main Shrine," and I don't know what it is... but because of the effort it took to get there, it felt somehow spiritually profound. I was a little moved! After all, struggle is important, isn't it!

And the view from the observation deck is just beautiful!
It really makes you feel like you've come to such a high place.

Actually, I heard there is a shrine called the "Okusha" about 600 steps further up from here, but I didn't have the energy to go that far, so I just paid my respects and turned back.

Even so, along with all the sweat I worked up, I felt like my heart was purified too, so this place really is a special "Konpira-san" after all.

While my "companions" were dropping out one by one, one of the reasons I wanted to reach the "Main Shrine" was that I wanted an "amulet."

And this is it, the "Yellow Amulet of Happiness."

Things like this feel like a kind of "reward."
↑
Am I really being purified?

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After finishing my afternoon errands, I went to eat the "|Ikkaku|" bone-in chicken" recommended by the locals!
It was spicier than I expected and delicious~

If you ever visit Marugame in Kagawa Prefecture, please be sure to try it!

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