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Features
Departments

left with a variety of treats. Our next stop was the group photo, we sat down to a dinner of many
four-story high Otsuka Museum of Art, which is dishes! We had never seen meals presented as such
built into the side of a mountain and has absolutely works of art like those in Japan. We had octopus,
breathtaking art displays. The displays were all shrimp, salmon, squid, bass, beef, fried shrimp
ceramic reproductions of world-famous pieces of tempura, potato, a green vegetable, soup, noodles,
art. The ceramic will never fade, and the museum steamed rice, greens in broth, egg custard with
was built to give Japanese people who cannot mushrooms and chestnut, plum wine, and green
travel abroad the opportunity to see these famous tea. One could eat the fish raw or cook it in boiling
pieces. vegetables with broth. Dessert was a small custard
Our next stop was the Uzo-no-Michi, a 1,500- similar to creme brûlée.
foot floating promenade under the Onaruto Bridge On Friday morning, a group of us trekked
that allows one to walk right out over the ocean. up the 785 steps to the famous Kotohira Shrine.
When the bridge was built, space was left for the Built around 1001, it is located halfway to the top
proposed Shikoku Shinkansen train line; however, of Mount Zozu. We were fortunate to see some
no progress has been made, so the space intended “pilgrims” when we arrived at the shrine. These
originally for the bullet trains is used as an pilgrims travel the routes in Japan known as the
observatory to see the Naruto whirlpools beneath Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Japan is a very
the bridge. The current in the strait of Naruto is spiritual country where residents take great pride
one of the strongest in the world. The corridor in their heritage. We next headed to the Oboke
has wire mesh that allows one to feel the breeze; Gorge for a short but scenic boat ride down the
four viewing spaces where glass extends from the Yoshino River, the second largest river in Shikoku.
floor to the ceiling; and sections of glass floor at Our next stop was the Iya Kazura-Bashi Bridge,
intervals that allow one to look straight down at which is constructed with vines of a plant known
the swirling ocean 150 feet below. as shirakuchi kazura (hardy kiwi). It is 150 feet
After this, we drove to Kotohira, where our tall at its highest point, only 5 feet wide, and
hotel was the true Japanese experience! Our 45 feet above the water’s surface, with planks
washitsu (room) had tatami flooring, a tightly spaced every 12 inches across a span of 65 feet.
woven straw “rug.” The room was very sparse Although the view of the clear water of the Iya
with just a small table in the middle where one
could enjoy tea and snacks while sitting on
floor cushions. One immediately removed shoes
upon entry and donned the slippers provided.
The bathroom had its own pair of slippers that
absolutely did not go outside the bathroom. While
we were at dinner, the staff came into each of our
rooms, moved the table aside, and set up our beds,
which we had previously found neatly folded in
the closets. The bed was a futon or “Shikibuton”
(/she•key boo•tone/ bottom “mattress”) and Duvet
(or “Kakebuton” (/ka•kay boo•tone/ top “duvet”).
For this night, we slept in true Japanese tradition—
on the floor!
Dinner—another cultural experience in a
private dining room with our chef and waitress—
was amazing. Each of us wore her Yukata (a
summer kimono) and jacket that had been
provided in the closets of the rooms. After our A small shrine in heart of the Dotonbori District

8 · Volume 89-4
8 · Volume 89-4