Visiting the island of Miyajima 宮島
Itsukushima is an island popularly known as Miyajima, literally meaning the 'Shrine Island'. Miyajima is easily reached from Hiroshima where we spent a day, and is a really magical island not only for its famous Torii but also for its numerous preserved shrines, temples and historical monuments, and for the virgin forest and top view of Mt Misen.
The famous floating torii (shrine gate) is about 16 metres high and seems to float on the water in front of the island's Mt Misen. It is one of the most dramatic and known sceneries of japan.
When the tide is low, Itsukushima-jinja (the shrine) and the Torii of are surrounded by mud and they are approachable by foot from the island.
If you want to enjoy the magical view when the torii appears to be floating on the water, make sure you'll be there at high tide.
The highest peak on Miyajima, Mt Misen rises 535 meters above sea level and it is covered with a primeval forest. From its top you can enjoy the views of the Seto Inland Sea. You can reach the panoramic view spot by taking the ropeway or climbing up on foot which is what we did both ways as the forest offers some good hikes, temples and deers.
On the way up we followed the Momijidani Course, mostly through the forest. It is the shortest but also the steepest way, paved all along by rocks of unusual shapes and sizes making the climb a 1.5 to 2 hours of hard climbing. The rocks are all in different sizes which become pretty soon exhausting, and all the way we were cursing in our head the genius who had the brilliant idea of indicating every 100 meters what distance is left to climb - not something you actually want to be reminded every few minutes! But altogether, we didn't regret not taking the rope as we are always up for a good hike.
At some point we tried to leave the rocks path and decided to walk through the forest itself, but very soon we gave up on this idea and ran back to the path. The reason? Well, I don't think many people actually do work inside the forest and although there was a tiny, almost forgotten path there, it was the domain of an endless family of scary spiders, with their webs being at the level of your head and body! Not something you want to run into...
Close to the summit was a temple and a number of Buddhist structures where we decided to rest a bit and to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view.
From the temple down to Itsukushima-jinja, we took the Daisho-in path which offers some great views and beautiful old temples. The descent took us a little over an hour.
We then enjoyed a walk through the old district of Miyajima with its local handicraft shops, restaurants and of course the famous Deers of Miyajima wandering freely on the island!
After enjoying the sunset, we went back to Hiroshima in the evening because we had a train to catch to Osaka the morning after, but if you have the time, I would truly recommend you to spend one night on Miyajima to enjoy its beauty and quiet after all tourists have left the island.
