On our last day in Hiroshima area, we put our backpacks in a locker at the train station, and headed out for Miyajima (Miya Island). With the many shrines, pagodas and temples, Tim started calling it: Shrine Land. William was keen on taking more tram cars in Japan, so we took a tram to Miyajima Guchi, and got on a ferry bound for the island. We had purchased sodas from a vending machine to drink during the crossing. William's soda (in an aluminum bottle) shot out when we tried to open it. We had the Japanese fellow next to us about on the floor from the comedic 3 Stooges routine that Tim, William and I were doing trying to save the soda, clean it up, and doing all the contortions necessary not to get the sweet stuff on us.
There were deer on the island, and they were everywhere. Their poop was everywhere, and smelly. You're not supposed to feed them. I did see professional photographers with grain in their pockets to get the deer to pose in pictures. I also observed a deer stealing a lunch out of a bike basket, and another eating plastic. Yikes!
It is a short walk from the ferry to the torii gate and shrine. We took the ocean route, as there is less souvenir shopping and people to negotiate.
The O-torii gate is considered one of the most photographed and picturesque views of Japan. We got there about 10 o'clock, so we got a few photos before the sun was directly overhead and flattening out all the light!
William posed for this picture only after I bribed him with icecream. His modeling fee is reasonable. He ended up settling for shaved strawberries and ice with sweetened condensed milk on it. Nummy and refreshing!
One of the things William loves here are the ropeways, or gondolas. We followed the signs (it's in katakana, 'ro-pu uuayhay,') and I think that it should be noted that it would only take 7 minutes if you are a Medal-winning Steeplechase Olympian. For the rest of us, it takes a bit longer. Plus, there were many idyllic places to photograph. Japanese are very good at making little zen gardens, which I enjoy.
I even hiked a bit extra off the beaten path to get a pic of Tim and William on the bridge. It is a sunny day, yet you'll see umbrellas like the one this lady has. They use it as portable shade, and since they don't have to be wind and rain resistant, some are very parasol-esque with beautiful edges. I priced them, and they begin at $50, so I just use my regular umbrella.
Okay, so this could be a picture from home. I guess that's the point!
There were two ropeways. The gondolas had an 8 person maximum (6 if American) for the first part.
Then there was the 30 person one to the top. Well, the faux top. It's an additional hike to the actual top of Mt. Misen.
Since we had a shinkansen to catch in the afternoon, we declared this the top. BTW, we got to the platform only 6 minutes before the shinkansen left. It was a close shave, but it all worked out. Instead of the tram back (70 mins.), we took the train (40 mins.) and got our bags out of the lockers, got an eki-ben (bento lunch bought at the 'eki' or train station) and walked fast to the tracks.
Mt. Misen looking down. It reminded me of the Aegean.
If you double-click on this pic, you'll see the monkey warnings. It reminded us of the Group Health commercial (Abunai) and the many videos we see on America's Funniest videos. There was a sign at the top that said the monkeys were already in the forest, foraging for food. We have our own 5-year-old monkey in tow, so that was okay by me.
Itsukushima shrine. If you double-click, you'll see the white heron in the water. By the time we got back from the 'top' of Mt. Misen, the tide was in, and the shrine was again above water, versus mud.
Only 300 Yen to enter, and on stilts (originally built this way to ensure the island wouldn't be defiled by footprints), it was an interesting shrine. The red lacquer here is far more orange than I had previously believed.
The view of the torii gate from the shrine.
5-storied pagoda from the shrine.
There was a wedding going on. The female Shinto attendants are giving the bride something to drink (the groom also has his turn to drink). The hat she is wearing is traditional. Apparently, this is to cover the HORNS on a woman until after the wedding. Women can be devils, and the man must not know this until after the wedding. I didn't wear a veil at my wedding, so I guess Tim knew what he was getting into!
There were deer on the island, and they were everywhere. Their poop was everywhere, and smelly. You're not supposed to feed them. I did see professional photographers with grain in their pockets to get the deer to pose in pictures. I also observed a deer stealing a lunch out of a bike basket, and another eating plastic. Yikes!
It is a short walk from the ferry to the torii gate and shrine. We took the ocean route, as there is less souvenir shopping and people to negotiate.
The O-torii gate is considered one of the most photographed and picturesque views of Japan. We got there about 10 o'clock, so we got a few photos before the sun was directly overhead and flattening out all the light!
William posed for this picture only after I bribed him with icecream. His modeling fee is reasonable. He ended up settling for shaved strawberries and ice with sweetened condensed milk on it. Nummy and refreshing!
One of the things William loves here are the ropeways, or gondolas. We followed the signs (it's in katakana, 'ro-pu uuayhay,') and I think that it should be noted that it would only take 7 minutes if you are a Medal-winning Steeplechase Olympian. For the rest of us, it takes a bit longer. Plus, there were many idyllic places to photograph. Japanese are very good at making little zen gardens, which I enjoy.
I even hiked a bit extra off the beaten path to get a pic of Tim and William on the bridge. It is a sunny day, yet you'll see umbrellas like the one this lady has. They use it as portable shade, and since they don't have to be wind and rain resistant, some are very parasol-esque with beautiful edges. I priced them, and they begin at $50, so I just use my regular umbrella.
Okay, so this could be a picture from home. I guess that's the point!
There were two ropeways. The gondolas had an 8 person maximum (6 if American) for the first part.
Then there was the 30 person one to the top. Well, the faux top. It's an additional hike to the actual top of Mt. Misen.
Since we had a shinkansen to catch in the afternoon, we declared this the top. BTW, we got to the platform only 6 minutes before the shinkansen left. It was a close shave, but it all worked out. Instead of the tram back (70 mins.), we took the train (40 mins.) and got our bags out of the lockers, got an eki-ben (bento lunch bought at the 'eki' or train station) and walked fast to the tracks.
Mt. Misen looking down. It reminded me of the Aegean.
If you double-click on this pic, you'll see the monkey warnings. It reminded us of the Group Health commercial (Abunai) and the many videos we see on America's Funniest videos. There was a sign at the top that said the monkeys were already in the forest, foraging for food. We have our own 5-year-old monkey in tow, so that was okay by me.
Itsukushima shrine. If you double-click, you'll see the white heron in the water. By the time we got back from the 'top' of Mt. Misen, the tide was in, and the shrine was again above water, versus mud.
Only 300 Yen to enter, and on stilts (originally built this way to ensure the island wouldn't be defiled by footprints), it was an interesting shrine. The red lacquer here is far more orange than I had previously believed.
The view of the torii gate from the shrine.
5-storied pagoda from the shrine.
There was a wedding going on. The female Shinto attendants are giving the bride something to drink (the groom also has his turn to drink). The hat she is wearing is traditional. Apparently, this is to cover the HORNS on a woman until after the wedding. Women can be devils, and the man must not know this until after the wedding. I didn't wear a veil at my wedding, so I guess Tim knew what he was getting into! I thought the music was quite interesting, so rolled some video. That third instrument must be a flute-like instrument as well, but it was quite funky!
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