Not just Itsukushima srhine(厳島神社), you can enjoy some hobbies in Itsukushima Island, Miyajima, such as beautiful nature, arts and buildings, street and food.
Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -3
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Misen is the mountain where Gods live in myth. Especially, autumn is the best season to visit. You can see beautiful red-colored maple leaf, Momiji in Japanese, as the valley is called "maple leaf valley - Momiji Dani". The shining green in May is outstanding, as well, though.
Misen is also famous for precious plants and flower. Limited citizen in Hiroshima were able to enter this "Gods' island" and hilly Misen nature have kept those plants.
You can ride a cable car from maple leaf valley towards the crest of Misen, but wind from Seto Inland Sea, "Seto nai kai", is smooth and good for walk for hours, too.
From the crest of Misen, Seto Inland Sea shines gently and you can see Hiroshima city in fine day. Good to go up by walk and down by cable car, perhaps.
Several trails you have to go Misen, but the most major trail is Momiji dani trail, maple leaf valley trail. Even if no time or feel not comfortable to go up to crest, you can see beautiful nature in the valley and feel holiness. Maple leaf valley is just 10-15min from Itsukushima Shrine.
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No you should be hungry. Two choices you have. Have a nice Japanese meal in traditional Japanese-Style Inns, Ryokan. You can enjoy lunch only with reasonable price. The most famous inn is "Iwaso", standing just in front of the entrance for maple leaf valley. Delicate setout will make you happy to eat with fine view outside of window. Traditional Japanese style building and garden are also the pride of "Iwaso". You should feel yourself straightening up by standing in fron of the old entrance.
The another option is enjoying snacks in Miyajima.
Momiji Manju, of course. Nowadays, you find many tastes, bean paste, chocholate, cheese, jam, cream, etc, and also deep fried ones called "age momiji". You can see how it is made in store front. Some process is taken by machine and some are man-made. Moving Momiji Manju is very pretty and good to keep looking.
Baked oyster is another snack, if you can eat. Why Oyster? You should read Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -2. Winter is the season for Oyster. You will be knocked out with smelling oyster and soy sauce getting burned.
The entrance for "Iwaso". No reservation is required for lunch. Old style garden and inns itself are good to be visited.
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Machine for Momiji Manju and Oyster shell. Hot Momiji Manju is the best for any taste.
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Many old residences were renewed for shops and cafe. Machiya Dori, 町家通り, is the hot street in these years. Mochiya dori runs in parallel with shopping arcade. Every site & detail of building is delicate and beautiful. Many goods in shops are Miyajima-made.
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Time passes so fast in Miyajima. You should see to the time for ferry.
1 more thing. Spending 5-6 hours in Miyajima, you see the different view for red-colored wooden shrine gate, "Oo Torii". If that was floating upon the calm sea, now you can walk to and touch it.
Sunsetting Miyajima and Seto Inland Sea, "Seto nai kai", is unexplainable scenery, where you feel re-borning. You may feel here is the hometown. Perhaps, it is the sense of "Gods' Island".
Now, it's time to go home. Before you get to Hiroshima city central, you will get the nice dream in tram "Hiroden". Don't forget to buy a souvenir.
View Hiroshima City Map in a larger map
- Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -3
- Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -2
- Hiroshima Day Trip: Miyajima (宮島) -1
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