6 June 2016
After a wonderful and awesome dinner at the Mizuha-so last evening, I was wondering if the breakfast would be something special. I was not disappointed.
Again, I must give top marks for food presentation, variety and quality. Once again, we enjoyed the meticulously prepared food.
We checked out of the Mizuha-so ryokan and took a slow walk towards the Itsukushima shrine and its famous torii gate. Miyajima was practically deserted and peaceful in the early morning.
The deer were already up and about.
The tide was up in the morning and the torri gate over the water is one of its kind. This iconic Floating Torii Gate is supposed to the one the 3 best views of Japan.
We goofed around, trying to outdo each other with special photos of the Floating Torii Gate.
We circled round the inlet where the Itsukushima Shrine was located. The entrance to the shrine is on the other side of the inlet. We had walked this path after dinner last night but the morning view was very different.
We paid a small fee to enter the Itsukushima Shrine from the east entrance. The shrine dates back to 593 and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
A long corridor led us past the Marodo Shrine, which is the shrine for guest deities, and to the Main Hall.
Along the 270 m long corridor, bronze lanterns were hung on each side. We were practically walking on timber boards, over water.
A small crowd of visitors were outside the main hall, observing a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony. I had never seen such ceremony before, so it was quite interesting.
In front of the main hall is the pier where views of the Torii Gate, in alignment with the main hall, could be seen “floating” in the sea. This was the favourite spot for photos and there was an orderly queue formed for visitors to take turns for photo shots.
There was an arched bridge just before the exit on the west side. Exiting the shrine, we were back to where we started in the morning, near our ryokan. So, we had to circle round the inlet again.
By late morning, Miyajima was getting crowded and tour groups had arrived on the island. It was interesting to see a tour leader bribing the local deer with food and managed to line them up for photos with his tour group. As I said before, the deer would do anything for food.
After visiting this interesting shrine built on water, we walked through the shopping area of Omotesando Street on the way to the pier. One of the “must-try” food while in Miyajima are oysters. Oyster landed in Hiroshima are very big and tasty. They could be eaten grilled or natural with a touch of lime.
Look at the size and thickness of the Miyajima oysters! There were a few stores selling them and we ate from two stores.
Another popular local snack is the maple leaf shaped pastries filled with red bean paste called the momiji manju. Fillings could include chocolate, custard, matcha, cheese, chestnut, and even ice cream. We bought one with standard red bean paste, just to try.
Okonomiyaki was also available in one of the restaurants on the island. It was interesting to read the history and cooking methods for this dish that we had tried in Hiroshima.
We boarded the JR ferry and bid farewell to Miyajima with fond memories. We have to travel back to Kyoto from Miyajima. As we would be passing by Kobe, there was an opportunity to make a quick stop at Shin-Kobe Station for the famous Kobe Beef on the way back to Kyoto!
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