People in Hiroshima, People to Hiroshima: Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -2

Once ferry gets on Miyajima, start walking through the approach to Itsukushima shrine(厳島神社). If you go straight to shrine, it will just 10min, but of course, you should walk with looking shops, landscape,play with Japanese deer and taste Momiji Manju.

Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -1
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Deer is the holy animal in Japan, being told as the messenger of God. The momiji manju is a maple leaf-shaped sponge cake containing bean paste. You can find the paste of chocolate, cheese, fruite jam and cream, as well.

The appoach to shrine goes toward the seaside, first, then shop street, and goes back to seaside, at the last. In winter, you can find out the oyster shops and try burned oyster at the shop. Oyster is the local specialty of Hiroshima, where Oyster is caught most in Japan.

Momiji Manju is also the local specialty of Miyajima/ Hiroshima, and people in Hiroshima has to have their own favorite brand of Momiji Manju, as well as their favorite paste inside Momiji Manju. Famous brand should not be alsways the best, but the one hot and fresh should taste best in any brand. Smell of hot Manju is irresistible. You can buy from 1 piece in any shop in Miyajima and Japanese tea is to be served with. You will not get persisting coercive sales even in that case.

High season is spring and fall. Especially in fall, you can see beautiful maple leaf. Japanese deer is on the loose without the owner, but managed by local goverment. They are very pretty and unfussy. In the shop street, you can try oyster by 200-400JPY and Momiji Manju by 80-120JPY.

Just beside the gate of shop street, you can find huge size of wooden spoon, called "Shamo-ji", rice paddle. It is the most famous souvenir of Miyajima along with Momiji Manju. It is said that "Shamo-ji" brings happiness or "Shamo-ji" is the symbol of happiness. Most of "Shamo-ji" were crafted with the wood in Miyajima, "Misen", holy mountain behind the shrine, and prayed in Itsukushima shrine. Nowadays, you should ask the shopkeeper, if you want the real one.
Anyway, it should be really good for souvenir, since it is not so heavy or bulky.

You can find "Shamo-ji" at the entrance for Momiji Manju shop. This shop, "MIYATOYO" is famous for cheese pasted Manju. "Shamo-ji" at the entrance of shop street is the biggest one in the world. It is wooden. "Shamo-ji" is also used in Momiji Manju shop to stir the paste.

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You should see the stone shrine gate, "Tirii", by walking with having 2-3 Momiji Manju. Stone lanterns are standing in seaside street, and then you find the bigger, red-colored wooden shrine gate, "Oo Torii", floating the calm sea. "Trii" floating upon the water is really beautiful. Sea surrounding Miyajima is very clear especially in fine sun-shine day. Red-color gate upon blinking water is artistic and holy.

The entrance for Itsukushima shirne is just a few minutes once you see this landscape. At the entrance, there were the living horse until a few years ago. After white good-looking hourse died, imitation horse is standing. Old white horse, gate keeper of the shrine, reminded us holiness of the place.

The stone shrine gate and stone lanterns. Fireworks festival in Miajima is taken place every summer. This approach is the most popular place to enjoy that. Miajima is also famous for those several festvals.

In flood tide, the gate seems really floating with copying its shape upon the sea, while in low tide, you can walk just underneath of the gate.

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Itsukushima shrine and surrounding landscapes are not just beautiful, but outstanding for the accordance of nature and man-made monuments. The color is changed by season and climate, and you will never get bored.
Finally, we get the inside of Itsukushima shirne in upcoming column.

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