We started our day with a beautiful homemade breakfast. Then our host showed us off by praying for us and sounding his conch shell-like horn to the mountains.
We had such a nice stay.
Buses again. This time to the second and third of the trinity of holy shrines: Kumano Hayatama-Taisha and Kumano Nachi-Taisha.
Kumano Hayatama-Taisha
At this shrine, we saw the first recognition of the Women’s World Cup even though Japan is doing really well.
Kumano Nachi-Taisha
This is really the gem of the three shrines. It hosts the tallest waterfall in Japan (Ichi-ban our taxi driver tells us), a pagoda, and a beautiful shrine.
I made a special prayer at each monument. One was for a great school year this year and the other for forgiveness for losing my shit on Owen when we couldn’t find the correct bus while we were melting away in the blazing sun.
There are both Shinto shrines as well as Buddhist temples at Nachi-san
Kii-Katsuura
We are now in the seaside town of Kii-Katsuura. It is so pretty here and it is on the sea. It also seems deserted. There are only a few families staying here. It must be a bustling reaort sometimes. I don’t know if we’re here during a down time or if these smaller places in Japan are rotting away from lack of tourism.
They have a beautiful bath here and it is set up for large groups of people but there is no one around.
