Just a short journey on the train and boat from Hiroshima is Miyajima - you know the one with the red Torii gate in the sea.
Miyajima makes for a super day out as here are amazing views, great walks and, yes that red Torii gate. It is also so easy to get to from Hiroshima and you can use your JR pass, including on the ferry (just make sure you get the JR red ferry).
As you sail across to the island, the famous red 'floating' Torii gate comes into view, with the Itsukushima shrine behind - it is an awesome site. The boat seems to take a detour to go closer to it - just make sure you stand on the right side.
There are a few thing you can do on the island, apart from just take photos of the Torii gate. There are several shrines and temples to explore and, if you are feeling energetic, you can follow the short or long walking (less tourists and a more remote) tracks up to the top of hill behind (recommended). Alternatively, if you are feeling a bit lazy, there is a cable car (but that is cheating!). Pick up a stamp guide at the entrance and collect stamps as you go around to get yourself a prize at the end - some rather nice Japanese sweets.
We decided to do the hike (surprise surprise), so followed the coast around to the gate and checked out the temples/shrines nearby without going in, while dodging the numerous deer.
The gate looks like it is floating on water in the middle of the bay (it actually has no foundations and just sits on the bottom) and offers endless photo opportunities. It looks even better at sun set and it is possible to get up close and walk around and under it when the tide is out.
We decided not to go into any of the shrines, as we had seen a-lot of shrines in Japan and as most are open air, you can see most of it from the outside (but we did sneak in to get our stamps!).
The walk we chose to do was recommended by Kieran - the Irish chap we met in Hiroshima - and took us quite far along the coast, past the aquarium, before heading up the mountain. It was the longest and most remote walk, which means one thing - less tourists and a better experience!!!
The walk took a good couple of hours and was a fairly constant gradient walking up-hill via steps of various quality. You pass by streams, beautiful foliage and huge boulders - making it a very interesting walk. We were rewarded for our efforts with (if you take a small detour) an amazing view over the inland sea and the mainland - just keep on going to the end. A perfect stop for lunch and chilling out.
After relaxing for a bit we continued up. You know you are there as the number of people increases, significantly, but it isn't too bad. There are various shrines (more stamps) and the seven wonders to find around Mt Misen (535m), but most of these are difficult to see or not there anymore. The view from the viewing deck is spectacular.
Taking a different route back, we headed to Daishō-in Temple. This route was much easier and busier, but gave a different perspective. However, we did prefer the longer route.
The temple of Daishō-in Temple was a favourite and is free to get into - Bonus! As you enter on the left is a buddha garden, with 500 small buddhas all with red and white striped wooly hats. Further up, as you pass pass prayer wheels there are various bells and good luck things, such as throwing ball in a bucket??? You can even take a walk under the main hall in the pitch dark to discover some lit up images (what they mean we have no idea but it was fun).
At the top is an interesting hall with hundreds of lanterns hung from the ceiling and a small pagoda with 7 lucky deities. This temple had everything!
After a fair amount of time, we headed back to the town centre and decided to hang around for sunset. Everyone seemed to have the same idea, and we were faced with a long line of big fancy camera on tripods, and conversations about lens size and fancy numbers.... obviously point a shoot isn't the done thing anymore.
We had about an hour before sunset, so as we had collected enough stamps from the various attractions to get a prize, we went to pick it up. We were pleasantly surprised to be presented with a box of locally made sweets! So we sat watching the sunset munching into them. A soft batter, with different flavorings on the inside.
As the tide was going out it was now possible to go right up to the gate and take some really great photos. It is much bigger up close and has obviously been there a long time, given all the repairs and barnacles on it.
After the quite wonderful sun-set, and watching the photographs doing their little dances trying to get the best shots, we headed for the boat.
It was a top day, and we really enjoyed it. We were so pleased we had the opportunity to see the sunset and get up so close to gate. We were also surprised how much we enjoyed the shrines there, given we had seen so many.
Our next stop would be Takayama, via a quick stop at the Okayama Korakuen gardens - don't you just love the JR pass!!!
 |
| That Torri gate |
Miyajima makes for a super day out as here are amazing views, great walks and, yes that red Torii gate. It is also so easy to get to from Hiroshima and you can use your JR pass, including on the ferry (just make sure you get the JR red ferry).
As you sail across to the island, the famous red 'floating' Torii gate comes into view, with the Itsukushima shrine behind - it is an awesome site. The boat seems to take a detour to go closer to it - just make sure you stand on the right side.
 |
| Floating in the sea |
There are a few thing you can do on the island, apart from just take photos of the Torii gate. There are several shrines and temples to explore and, if you are feeling energetic, you can follow the short or long walking (less tourists and a more remote) tracks up to the top of hill behind (recommended). Alternatively, if you are feeling a bit lazy, there is a cable car (but that is cheating!). Pick up a stamp guide at the entrance and collect stamps as you go around to get yourself a prize at the end - some rather nice Japanese sweets.
 |
| A pagoda |
We decided to do the hike (surprise surprise), so followed the coast around to the gate and checked out the temples/shrines nearby without going in, while dodging the numerous deer.
 |
| Deer close up |
The gate looks like it is floating on water in the middle of the bay (it actually has no foundations and just sits on the bottom) and offers endless photo opportunities. It looks even better at sun set and it is possible to get up close and walk around and under it when the tide is out.
We decided not to go into any of the shrines, as we had seen a-lot of shrines in Japan and as most are open air, you can see most of it from the outside (but we did sneak in to get our stamps!).
The walk we chose to do was recommended by Kieran - the Irish chap we met in Hiroshima - and took us quite far along the coast, past the aquarium, before heading up the mountain. It was the longest and most remote walk, which means one thing - less tourists and a better experience!!!
 |
| Keep on going |
The walk took a good couple of hours and was a fairly constant gradient walking up-hill via steps of various quality. You pass by streams, beautiful foliage and huge boulders - making it a very interesting walk. We were rewarded for our efforts with (if you take a small detour) an amazing view over the inland sea and the mainland - just keep on going to the end. A perfect stop for lunch and chilling out.
 |
| What a view for lunch |
After relaxing for a bit we continued up. You know you are there as the number of people increases, significantly, but it isn't too bad. There are various shrines (more stamps) and the seven wonders to find around Mt Misen (535m), but most of these are difficult to see or not there anymore. The view from the viewing deck is spectacular.
 |
| The viewing platform at the top |
Taking a different route back, we headed to Daishō-in Temple. This route was much easier and busier, but gave a different perspective. However, we did prefer the longer route.
 |
| Little weight lifting Buddha |
The temple of Daishō-in Temple was a favourite and is free to get into - Bonus! As you enter on the left is a buddha garden, with 500 small buddhas all with red and white striped wooly hats. Further up, as you pass pass prayer wheels there are various bells and good luck things, such as throwing ball in a bucket??? You can even take a walk under the main hall in the pitch dark to discover some lit up images (what they mean we have no idea but it was fun).
 |
| Chilly Buddha |
 |
| Don't forget your scarf Buddha |
At the top is an interesting hall with hundreds of lanterns hung from the ceiling and a small pagoda with 7 lucky deities. This temple had everything!
 |
| The 7 lucky deities |
After a fair amount of time, we headed back to the town centre and decided to hang around for sunset. Everyone seemed to have the same idea, and we were faced with a long line of big fancy camera on tripods, and conversations about lens size and fancy numbers.... obviously point a shoot isn't the done thing anymore.
 |
| Tide is out... time for a close up |
We had about an hour before sunset, so as we had collected enough stamps from the various attractions to get a prize, we went to pick it up. We were pleasantly surprised to be presented with a box of locally made sweets! So we sat watching the sunset munching into them. A soft batter, with different flavorings on the inside.
 |
| Sun is setting |
As the tide was going out it was now possible to go right up to the gate and take some really great photos. It is much bigger up close and has obviously been there a long time, given all the repairs and barnacles on it.
 |
| Getting close |
 |
| This thing is big |
After the quite wonderful sun-set, and watching the photographs doing their little dances trying to get the best shots, we headed for the boat.
 |
| Stunning |
 |
| Getting arty |
It was a top day, and we really enjoyed it. We were so pleased we had the opportunity to see the sunset and get up so close to gate. We were also surprised how much we enjoyed the shrines there, given we had seen so many.
Our next stop would be Takayama, via a quick stop at the Okayama Korakuen gardens - don't you just love the JR pass!!!
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