Lodging/Sleeping in the open
・In Shikoku, one can sleep in the open air?
・In case of sleeping in the open, where can one charge iPhone?
・In case of sleeping in the open, where can one throw the trash?
・Is there a list of free lodgings?
・Is there a map of free lodgings?
・Information on blogs is reliable?
・In case there is no lodging at a desirable location, is there any way out?
・Which lodging do you recommend?
・The lodgings in Shikoku accept credit cards?
・What do they serve at the lodgings?
・How many days in advance must one make the reservation?
・Can one make the reservation by internet?
・Free Wi-Fi is available at the lodging?
・How can one send his/her luggage to the next lodging?
・Is there a iPhone charger at the lodging?
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In Shikoku, one can sleep in the open air?
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In the limited places it is possible, but not everywhere.
One must avoid breaking into the living area of the local people without permission. It is true that there is “Osettai”, a traditional custom of entertaining travelers.
Some people sleep at the bus stops (with a roof) or unmanned stations. Local people often complain about it.
The use of these places should be limited to the case that one finds no other lodgings. Also, they should be used only during the hours when the bus is out of service. And the user should not forget cleaning up the place before leaving. Otherwise local people would prohibit the use.
There are cases that the toilets for the handicapped are used as a sleeping place. Please don’t do it.
Such a list exists. The content is, however, very changeable for various reasons. It is not posted on internet for this reason and also for the reason that too many people may come and the place gets overcrowded.
The information on internet can be obsolete. The listed places(*) may have been closed. It is better to ask at the first fudasho (Ryozenji-temple) or ask other pilgrims.
(*) There used to be a list on the site (the places where people slept inn the open).
It would be convenient if there is a park prepared specially as a sleeping place for pilgrims. Unfortunately there is none at present (2016).
2016.05
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In case of sleeping in the open, where can one charge iPhone?
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There are only a few places with plugs minshuku (a guest house) ,[ おもてなしステーション Omotenasi station ]
2016.05
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In case of sleeping in the open, where can one throw the trash?
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Things like a box lunch bought at a convenience store may be put into the trash box there. At the lodging you can get rid of most of the garbage. Unfortunately there is no trash box for Ohenro because once a box is set then other people would throw their garbage into it.
2016.05
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Is there a list of free lodgings?
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Free lodging means it is the place of Osettai. It is a rule not to propagate the information about Osettai.
2016.05
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Is there a map of free lodgings?
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Free lodging means it is the place of Osettai. It is a rule not to propagate the information about Osettai.
2016.05
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Information on blogs is reliable?
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善根宿(zenkonyado) is different from a hotel, ryokan (Japanese style hotel) or minsyuku (guest house). It is a place where the master of the house offer, in good faith, a place to stay overnight for pilgrims. It is not a business and so not available every day.
If you receive Osettai, please do not disclose information about it on the internet. There have been troubles.
2016.05
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In case there is no lodging at a desirable location, is there any way out?
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One goes to the lodging by taxi or bus and returns to the same place the following day.
Some of the lodgings provides transportation to Fudasho. So you should ask about it by phone.
In my (writer’s) case, if the route is too long, I would divide into two sections and spend two days. Sometimes the distance after division became so short that I had a half day free. In such a case I rested well.
2016.05
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Which lodging do you recommend?
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Please look at the following site. An experienced site manager provides information on the recommendable lodgings.
[ おへんろさん家 Ohenro-san-chi ]
Sometimes you get to know the names of “recommendable” lodgings, for instance at Nokyosyo (stamp office).
You might believe it and stay there only to face a disappointed. I once stayed overnight in a lodging which had been notorious on the internet for filthiness. But it turned out to be a nice place for me. In fact I like to stay there again. To sum up, don’t believe others’ reviews and find out on your own.
2016.05
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The lodgings in Shikoku accept credit cards?
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In most hotels they will accept it. But in minsyuku (guest house) you are supposed to pay in cash.
You should check it when you make the reservation.
2016.05
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What do they serve at the lodgings?
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In hotels they offer two types of meals, western or Japanese. In minsyuku and inns you have wasyoku(Japanese style meal). In Kochi prefecture I had to eat “Katsuo-no-tataki”(seared bonito) almost every day. Some lodgings can regularly change the menu and offer different dishes.
2016.05
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How many days in advance must one make the reservation?
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In Shikoku it is necessary to make a reservation of lodging, unlike in the case of the Spanish pilgrimage.
At the lodging they need some time to prepare your meal. To make the preparation easier you are advised to make your reservation, at the latest, by noon of the day you plan to stay overnight.
You may get lost or have sore feet while walking and may be unable to get to the lodging in time. In such a case, you should promptly inform the lodging of the delay.
2016.05
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Can one make the reservation by internet?
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Some of the lodgings you can make a reservation and payment? through the following Web site.
[ おへんろさん家 Ohenro-san-chi ]
The reservation via internet is possible for the lodgings registered on Rakuten Travel and those with their own home page. You can get information about the lodgings by looking into 「宿」(yado=lodging) on the following Web site. If a lodging has its own home page it is marked by「HP」. If it is registered on Rakuten Travel you find the link「楽天(rakuten)」.
[ おへんろ電子道標 Ohenro electronic signpost ]
At present (2018) most of the small lodgings accept the reservation by telephone. So if you can’t make the reservation by internet, you may show [ this page ] to a Japanese and ask him/her to do so.
2016.05
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Free Wi-Fi is available at the lodging?
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At guest houses and youth hostels you would find a free Wi-Fi. In most hotels you can use internet but some hotels have only wired LAN. Internet is most likely unavailable at Ryokans and minsyuku. Lodgings with a home page has Wi-Fi service. You may look into the following site and search 「宿」on the map. If the lodging has its own home page you find such a link on the screen. And in the home page you find out whether Wi-Fi is available or not.
[ おへんろ電子道標 Ohenro electronic signpost ]
If not in the remote regions you may try[ a way to buy the free SIM card ] It works so long as the electromagnetic waves can reach you.
2016.05
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How can one send his/her luggage to the next lodging?
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By requesting at the lodging you may have it sent by 宅急便(Takkyubin=express home delivery).
2016.05
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Is there a iPhone charger at the lodging?
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It's very unlikely to find it. You must prepare it on your own.
2016.05
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