Japan 2014 Day #13: Miyajima Island

Friday, 26 September

While we knew what we were going to be doing on Friday we hadn't anything actually booked, as we had decided just to take our time and go to Miyajima Island at our own pace rather than have to tag along with anyone else.

The island lies in the Inland Sea of Japan, about 30 minutes by train and then another 10 or so by ferry out of Hiroshima, all of it covered by our JR Rail Pass which was a bonus. The entire 30 sq kilometers of the island has been designated by the Japanese Government as a Special Historic Site so we were hoping it wasn't too built up.

We got to the ferry terminal a bit after ten and, while there were a few people around it didn't seem overly crowded.

Island ferry arrives

It was a glorious day and the trip over the narrow waterway to the island was highlighted by wonderful views of the giant red wooden O-Torii (or Grand Gate) which stands guard over the Itsukushima shrine.

O-Torii grand gate

The shrine itself seems to float on the water, and like a lot of Japanese shrines, is minimalist in style and they don't allow photos to be taken inside. The outside is another matter of course.

Itsukushima Shrine

The other major attraction of the island is the Ropeway to the top of the island peak that provides great views over the Inland Sea over to Hiroshima.  A decent walk up the hill to the bottom station (legs were in pretty reasonable shape by this time, with most aches and pains walked off), and a quiet scenic ride to the secondary peak of Mount Misen.

Miyajima Island Ropeway second station

Mount Misen's summit is the holy section of the mountain, but a 1-2 hour round walking trip would have taken us way past lunch time which was not to be even contemplated. Anyway, the views from the Ropeway top were quite spectacular enough.

View of the inland sea

View, with Hiroshima in the distance

Robyn started talking to an Australian on the summit and found out he was a teacher leading a school tour group. We were to continually run into these groups over the next week - groups from New Zealand, Queensland, NSW and Victoria - all of them Japanese students getting a crash course in culture and language.

After a brief wander around at the top it was back down again,

Back down on the Ropeway

for lunch (another great Katsudon) and a wander past a five-storey pagoda

5-Storey Pagoda

through the covered tourist market-place one block back off the waterfront

Island marketplace

and then back into Hiroshima.

Robyn and Will went off shopping while I dropped into the Hiroshima Museum of Art where I got to see Van Gogh's Daubigny's Garden, and a few pieces by Picasso, Renoir and Degas. The place is rather small but beautifully laid out and practically deserted. A wonderful end to a glorious day.

Robyn told me later that Hiroshima was one of her favorite parts of the trip. I can certainly understand why.