Miyajima, the Island of Shrines

The day we toured Hirishima it was pouring rain so we were happy the next day it had stopped so we decided to take the JR train and ferry to Miyajima Island which is about an hour outside of the city. The island is known as the Shrine Island as it is the location of one of the most famous shrines in Japan called Itsukushima which was originally built here in the 6th century and the present one being built in the 16th century. It also has a Gate which floats on the water and is one of the most photographed scenes in Japan.

Approaching the island...










Fish farms...










There were many school children also on a day trip...





And these little ones with their cute outfits...





The island is populated with deer that are quite bold and will approach you looking for food...





And will also look in your bag to find some...





We decided to do the Nature Trail up the mountain and it was a beautiful walk, so green...





Quiet streams...








View from the top...





By that time we were hungry and stopped at a traditional restaurant with no English menu but plastic food samples in the window. The food we received was very good, Don had the Japanese beef curry and I had oysters and rice...



This meal was a good deal at 25.00 for both of us!
The island has many shrines so we stopped at a few along our walk in the afternoon...



Five storied pagoda...





We saw this one on the side of the mountain as we walked by...



I love the colors around this one...


Before you entered this one you had to pull the bell and then bow...





Way up another hill was a temple dedicated to children and there were many whimsical touches...





 " See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"



 The Buddhas must find it cold here...



Some views of other shrines...





A quiet spot to meditate...









Lots of stairs to climb...







At this shrine Don lit a candle as he has done at temples, shrines and churches everywhere...





At this shrine you had to pay money and step on this stool which was filled with incense coming out of the shape of two feet and you would be blessed so it was worth a few yen...





We finally made it back down the hill and into the main shrine which is built over the water and has a series of different buildings. It is a Shinto shrine where visitors pray to the gods enshrined within.


As we entered there were a number of places to receive blessings such as here where the worshippers would wave the white sticks over them...





These worshippers follow the ritual at a shrine where you bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice. Bring you palms together to quietly pray and then bow once more.





The shrine was very peaceful...












In front of the shrine was the floating gate which is one of the most photographed scenes in Japan...





A closer look...





Some views around the little town...



Streams running through some of the streets...


A street scene...



A typical house front...





And as in anyplace where there are lots of visitors there was lots to eat...



They harvest a lot of oysters here and lots of vendors were grilling them.


This lady was doing fish rolled in various ingredients and then deep fried...





We opted to try a very traditional Japanese dessert...maple leaf-shaped manju cakes, known as momiji manju. The more traditional ones are filled with bean paste, but now they have other fillings like chocolate. 


Here on the island they make them...





And serve them with green tea, delicious!





So ended another great day in rural Japan which we prefer more than the cities. And of course like all the rest of the visitors to the island we had our picture taken by the famous gate....