Temples of “shrine island” - Miyajima
From Hiroshima Station we took a train south 30 minutes or so (the JR Sanyo Line), then boarded a small ferry for the 10 minute crossing to Miyajima Pier. Known for its Itsukushima Shrine, this beautiful island is home to many Buddhist holy places. The area is easily walked, as they are clustered around the beach. Oysters are an attraction as well, with vendors selling them raw and grilled.
The Great Torii Gate
Marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine, the torii represent the transition into the sacred. This Ryobu style 4 pillar torii is painted red to symbolize protection from evil, and for vitality. One can easily feel the power of it, seeming to float on the water during high tide, and then grounded in the sand at low tide. In fact, the island is thought to be a god, as Itsukushima means “island dedicated to the gods” in Japanese.
Please feed the deer!
The many deer on this forested island are very used to visitors, and seem to expect to be fed. In fact, we saw a large group of tourists attempting to get three deer out of their group photo, trying to coax them away and even push them out. But the deer would not budge, apparently holding out for some of the snacks that are sold to tourists for feeding them.
While there is lodging available on the island, this proved to be the perfect day trip for us, being back in Hiroshima at the end of the day for a fantastic dinner of grilled oysters and sake at a dark, old Izakaya (Japanese restaurant/bar).
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