Sawayaka Walking in Fukuroi (1) - Event held by JR Tokai

Every weekend except for July and August, JR Tokai or Central Japan Railway Company holds a walking event. It is called Sawayaka (refreshing) Walking, and I have participated in it several times in Shizuoka Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture. It is a free event with different courses, and you only need to come to one of the specified JR stations of the day to join it. Today, I went to Fukuroi that is 17 minutes train ride from Hamamatsu. The distance of the course was about 8.7 km.

First, I received a map from people who stood in JR Fukuroi Station and handed out maps (reception time is 8:30-11:00). Then, I bought a ticket of Kasui Lily Garden at a discount price for participants of Sawayaka Walking at a temporary counter.

Though the map is only in Japanese, it is easy to find the right way in Sawayaka Walking because there are signs to show the way. You can also follow other people who have a hat and a rucksack and are apparently participating in the walk.

Each course usually includes several local sightseeing spots. This time, the first destination was Kanpukuji founded in 793. Fukuroi is often said to be the middle of Tokaido Road as it was the 27th post-town from both ends (Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto). Since Kanpukuji was located in the center of this post-town in the middle, it is also called “navel temple.”

As other people did, I went inside with my shoes off and made a prayer. There was an impressive image of Kannon that reminded me of the Virgin Mary. After a while, I went back to the walk. Soon after leaving Kanpukuji, we started to walk along a river. Though it was hot, we could walk in the shade of trees for some time.

Scenery with water was surely refreshing. This is a rice field with newly planted rice seedlings.

From the station, it took me about 1.5 hours to get to Kasuisai Temple, the major sightseeing spot in the course.