Pilgrim Hut No.42 Utazu ⸱ Hirutaike Park

General Description: It is located in Hiruta-ike Park on the north side (left) along Prefectural Road No. 33, about 1.35 km from Goshoji (T78). It is also 5 kilometres before Tennoji (T79). The hut is made up of Kitayama cedar polished logs, imitating a “Taikodai”. Taikodai are the large floats, usually carried by groups of people, used at local festivals to carry Taiko drums.

Hirudaike Park is overseen by the Flower Making and Local Residents' associations.

According to folk lore, Utazu donated salt to Konpira 190 years ago (Bunsei 8/1825)and a tradition of thanks celebration arose from that.

Water: Available, at the residents' association meeting hall. Toilet: Not Available (but see comments)

7/4/2023 Comments: A very open structure by the highway in a fairly built up area in the short distance between Utazu Township and Sakaide City. The area would be noisy and busy throughout the day and bright at night. The structure seems to have been supplemented with corrugated plastic sheeting as a roof since it was originally built. Even so, the hut is open all round to wind and rain. During my visit in April 2023, the area inside the hut was wet from the day’s rain. The transparent sheeting would not give too much shade in summer, but could cut down UV radiation and reduce the chances of sunburn in the worst parts of the day. In spring and summer, some shelter would be provided by the trees of the park around the hut. There was a substantial building abutting the park which I assume was the residents meeting hall. The building had doors which opened onto the park, one of which was labeled as “Osettai Toilet”.

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