Day 22 - End of Leg 2

Day 22 takes me to pages 76 & 77 of my itinerary. Travelling from Kii-Katsuura to Tokyo 5.5 hours by two trains and a limo

So...where have we been so far?

Tokyo

Kawaguchiko (Mt Fuji)

Matsumoto

Nagano

Kanazawa

Shirakawa-go
Takayama

Hida Furukawa

Kyoto

Okayama

Takamatsu

Iya Valley

Tokushima

Kii-Tanabe

Kawayu Onsen

Yunomine Onsen

Kii-Katsuura

Who knows where the next leg will take me? Well, I do...of course. And my pack mule/sherpa/niece. 

Oddly...for 20 days, I was so far off the beaten track, that I didn’t meet up with any english speaking people (as their first language). Then in the middle of the hike from Hell, I met a Canadian girl from Vancouver. Then on Day 21, met up with an Australian couple & spent most of the day with them. They, too, will be boarding a ship on Sunday. Just a different one...with a similar itinerary. 

So...would I do this again? For the first time, perhaps. However, I would go to fewer places and spend at least two, if not three nights at each spot. I would give the Iya Valley drive the skip. Who can enjoy the scenery, if you are driving?

Would absolutely recommend the private guide service. As an aside, a fair number of castles, etc offer free guides...these are seniors. What a great way to keep people involved!

I would spend more time in the Kumano Kodo region. But avoid the death trap of the “short hike” (my knees are thanking me).

The gardens, especially this time of year should not be missed.

The personal experiences...because of the guides and especially, because I made the effort to learn the language - those were wonderful. And truly warmed the heart.

I recognize that my happy place is near water or in gardens. Loved the “cruise” down the river, even the ferry ride from Shikoku to Wakayama. 

Cruise down the Kumano river

Easiest leg of the Kumano Kodo trail

The bike ride/private tour was another highlight.

My fears before this trip were: 

Making all those trains & changes (I’m thinking of turning pro);

Squatter/Japanese style toilets (not turning pro, but not afraid of them, either); and

Not sure if it was a concern...don’t think so...but it became one...am now “allergic” to squid & snails. 

Coward.