10 March 2025 - Day 8 - No temple - via the Minami-Awa Sunline road to Mugi 24 km
- carolebertemes
- Mar 10, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 27, 2025
I had a nice unplanned breakfast with Sam at the Inn next to mine, and the innkeeper spoke Japanese to me as apparently my accent in saying “Hello” was so good she thought I spoke Japanese. On this encouraging note I left Hiwasa and its enormous Temple for an uneventful walk to Mugi.
Andre accompanied me again as we both had lodgings for tonight in Mugi. Instead of walking 15 km along the highway we chose to walk the prettier but longer scenic route. The weather was excellent with a spring feeling in the air so we took it slow, made lots of short stops at points of views and talked about whatever crossed our minds.
In the distance we once saw a pair of monkeys that luckily ran off, and during the whole walk we were accompanied by big Taigabuzzards drifting through the skies.
The inn I am staying at tonight looks like a very old hospital or so, but the room is clean and the hot bath was unfortunately way too hot for me. The view and sound from my window and tiny balcony however is spectacular. Right on a small bay directly on the Sea so I can even hear the waves crashing down with the window closed.
A few words about the use of shoes and slippers in the Inns for those who haven’t had the chance to go to Japan yet. As soon as you enter your lodging you are invited to take off your shoes and step into one of the many pairs of slippers provided by your host. You use these slippers to walk around in the house. Once you enter your room you leave the slippers outside your door. When you need to go to the toilet you put on your slippers, walk to the toilet and exchange your slippers against extra toilet slippers that are waiting for you inside the toilet area. As you step out of the toilet area, don’t forget to exchange the slippers again against your pair and leave the toilet slipers in the toilet area for the next person to use them. There may also be a different, stronger pair of slippers waiting in the entrance area. Those would be used to walk around outside of the house.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading and letting me know how you like my ramblings so far. Is it what you expected, do you wish to have other kinds of information, etc and of course the usual motivational messages mean a lot to me. You can of course also contact me via whatsapp, messenger or email.
I had to learn about the stories of the slippers as well when visiting Japan.
Still admire your courage for this trip and I am fond of reading from you.
Hi Carole,
This litte "Slipperologie" was very informative. Now we know what we will have in the house next time you come to visit us ;-).
Enjoying your storytelling and we stay tuned.
Armand and Dani
Love your blog, you are a great „Storyteller“
the slipper customs are quite confusing 🙃😅
Bis muer😘
Dani J
Hi Carole, reading every day your report, I realize how fast the Days go by...
Enjoy your time 😘
Hi Carole!
Your Japanese seems to be getting better and better.
And you are a specialist in how to use slippers.
I’m looking forward to next blog!
Yasuko