Day 12 - Hiroshima to Miyajima

Itsukushima (better known as Miyajima, Japanese for 'shrine island') is a small island a short ferry ride away from the coast of Hiroshima. We decided to splurge just a little and catch an 8.30am boat to the island from near the Peace Park, a short walk from our hotel), instead of catching a train all the way to the ferry terminal proper and then a ferry. The actual boat trip is longer and we got to travel down the Miyajima-Motoyasu River before heading out to sea across to the island, which took us about a hour all up. We will do the ferry trip tomorrow on the way back.

Miyajima's claims to fame are a huge "floating" Tori Gate, that has been built out in the bay and gets surrounded by water when the tide is in. The also have lots of wild deer, some other shrines, a ropeway (cable) car up Mount Misen, and lots of interesting laneways that we had to investigate.

Our first stop, after dumping packs at hotel, was the Tori Gate and Shrine, but the tide was on the way out so we decided to make our way to the ropeway to go up the mountain instead. That turned out to be a good decision based on the number of people waiting to get on the cable cars when we came back down. At the top we walked about 30 mins to get from the end of the ropeway to the actual top of Mt Misen. Well worth the effort.

After coming back down we wandered about town looking for something to eat for lunch and to search out a place that might be open late enough for dinner. As it is off-seasoon most shops shut when the day trippers leave, before dark, and that leaves only a small handful of restaurants open and an even smaller number that possibly have any vegetarian options. Fortunately, we did find one that wasn't going to close till 7.30pm. Otherwise it would have been a 4pm dinner for us....

Anyways, we went back to the hotel at 3pm to check in, then left to look for a place for dinner then back to the hotel for a hot, outdoor foot bath and then into the hotel onsen for hot baths and then out again for dinner (vegetarian tempura sitting on the floor at a low table, for the first time) and to see the Tori Gate all lit up at night and with the tide in again.

It was all very beautiful, and quiet without lots of pesky tourists. We are glad we decided to stay overnight here. Well worth it....Read more