The floating torii and red-capped Buddhas

Leaving lively Nagasaki and its stunning natural setting, leaving the tropical wilds of Kyushu, to drive 5 hours back up on the long haul to Tokyo..We took the ferry over to Miyajima in Hiroshima Bay to visit the Itsukishima Shrine and its huge red torii, which looks as if it is floating out at sea..and which you can all but wave out to at low tide. Deer roam the island, there are green mountains, old low wooden houses, an impressive bucolic Buddhist temple in the groves above the small town, fried oysters and maple cakes, parties of schoolchildren - and our guesthouse with garden and tatami mats, cards, curry and beer..Read more