This morning I was up early after a restless night, went out  and had pizza at some local joint, met a Spanish character who came to walk and got to temple 36, he was on his way home. He also mentioned the time walking on pavement, which is part why he didn't finish the walk, his pace was slow. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find out how I do myself.
Got on a bus and had a 45 minute ride to Temple number one. RYOZENJI. I picked up my gear and headed into the temple to pray for a safe journey.

got my traditional waking clothes for this walk, time to head out

start point

last nights bed, and the first of many sleeps on the floor 

One enters through the main gate and bows as you enter, you announce that you have come to pray, then you proceed to the water closet on the left usually, which is where you take a ladle of water wash both hands and then wash your mouth. As I was new to this, I washed my mouth but didn't know the etiquette, do you spit it out, or swallow, I was afraid of offending someone, so I swallowed............apparently you spit.

I found it confusing at the start and had to get my bearings, so I asked in broken something language with lots of hand gestures, so much so, I felt like I had just completed an aerobics class ," which way to temple two". couldnt get much help till it was pointed out to me that I was asking my way to temple number 28, that will prove to be an omen later on as it turns out.

The first days walk covers 5 temples, but I found myself done by early afternoon. I chose to walk on and finished at temple 7, way beyond my target for the first day, and something I would later regret

the meditation hall and prayer room

By now it was raining and I was drenched, so I found a local home and got a room for the night. Dinner was included, as was breakfast, for 48 dollars. Learning the house etiquette was a trip, take shoes off and put on slippers, walk to bedroom and remove slippers, go to bathroom and remove slippers at door and replace with slippers in bathroom.  Dinner was not enough for this guy, plus I hate Miso soup, did in the USA , still do. Anyway, it was tasty and I gobbled it up before diving into my rock hard straw mat bed on the floor. No mattresses, turns out quite comfortable when you get the hang of it. Being dead tired helped.
Excited for tomorrows walk as i plan to cover some ground..

seems every temple was at the TOP  OF A LONG set of stairs