Mont Misen

After arriving at the Miyajima ferry, we boarded and headed off to see the Miyajima Tori Gate that is known for being massive and partially submerged undewater. During high tide the Gate is floating in the water only able to be seen from the shore. During low tide it's actually possible to walk up to the gate and see it up close. I believe this portion of the year only has high tide so we saw it from a distance from the Daiganji Temple while visiting.

Steven and I grabbed a "Miyajima Beer" which I can only assume was brewed on the island. It was a bit pricey but was actually one of my favorite beers I've had since coming to Japan. On the topic of beers, I understand a bit more why when my Japanese friends visited Pittsburgh they were not as picky as I would be about what kinds of beers to select from the menu. In America, I believe we are spoiled with our beer selection! There are so many craft breweries and moving even one state over will get you tens of new options. Going to a grocery store in Ohio versus Pittsburgh will look mostly the same but the Beer aisle will be very very different. Maybe craft beer is sort of like America's version omiyage culture. I sometimes bring local beer to friends to show them what they're missing out on 😅 If you don't know what an omiyage is (souvenier from a local place) I will put a brief description at the end with a * symbol. I believe these experiences are really helping me understand what would be interesting to a foreigner when visiting America. When my Japanese friends visited I had a really hard time understanding what would be cool or out of the ordinary to them because these things have been everyday life to me forever!

Steven and Will wanted to go up the trail to reach the top of the island. The summit is very high up and the view was breathtaking up there. I was struggling to reach the top because it was about three hours of walking up many stairs and dirt roads. It was worth it, but Steven and Will clearly had a bit more stamina than me and kept leaving me behind 😭 I brought my go-pro and used it for the first time during this segment and will try to edit the video sometime I have more time and a computer handy. Overall it was pretty dangerous since I was alone most the time and if I fell there would really be no way to find where I am. There was only one other person we found and passed on the trail who was going the opposite direction.

However, the view up top was amazing and totally worth the climb. I've never had a view quite like that and was astounded. Will and Steven never actually reached the summit (they took a different turn in a fork that led them somewhere else) so I was the only one who got this amazing view. I was sad I was the only one but the silence of being the only one there also made it a bit more special. I felt like I was being consumed by the view surrounding me. I felt so small in comparison to the rest of the world but I also felt so powerful being above everything. I had to leave but wanted to stay much longer. This experience is not one I expected to have while in Japan. Views like this are not common and I wish I could convey how it felt in words but I simply do not think it is possible. We all see the world through pictures on our screens but actually experiencing and seeing in real life is just an uncomparable experience. It's a refreshing reminder that hearing a story is fun, but creating your own story is what gives life meaning.

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* An omiyage is a gift commonly purchased when one travels. They are wrapped up in cute little boxes and fancy paper usually. When visiting someone, it is considered polite to bring a gift and especially if you've been traveling to a area away from home. For example, if I visitied Hiroshima I would be expected to bring back an Omiyage that represents Hiroshima to my coworkers and friends. This sounds fun to me, but people who live here have told me it can get a bit annoying. Because it's an expectation, if you don't get an omiyage the people around you might feel a bit slighted. Thus, forgetting an omiyage can be very stressful. I've heard on a podcast there are even "bootleg omiyage" stores where you can pick up gifts from other regions just in case you forgot it win you were visiting 😆 In America, gift giving is seen as a special spontaneous thing and is never expected. So it's always a delight and suprise to get something or give something. I hope no one ever feels an obligation to return the gifts I give here because I just like showing people things they have not seen before 😊Read more