When people think of Japan, the first thing that pops up in their head is most of the time Tokyo or sushi. And when asking for a more cultural approach they’ll go for red gates know as Torii, with the gate in the water being the first one they get to know. Today was the day, I’d get to see this 16m tall giant in the world of gates.
Yesterday I asked the reception of my hostel what day would be the best to visit Miyajima. Friday or Saturday, as Saturday would be cloudy she said I should go on Friday. So morning came and I took off to Miyajima. Passed by a conbini to buy me some breakfast and make way to the trams.
A tram ride of 60 minutes later I arrived near the island, only had to take a ferry now towards the island. By now it should be low-tide when I arrived. And it was, this gave me the opportunity to check the Vermillion torii out from up close. Standing near it really makes you feel small.
This was the fist thing I said I would do when I decided to go to Japan, and I must say it was well worth it! I’d definitely come back again, if only for the gate itself!
I looked for a deer-less place to consume my egg-sandwich I bought for lunch. With a nice view at the torii and the accompanying shrine.
After ‘breakfast’ it was time to explore the island some more, I left the touristy shopping town-centre and went on the way to the aquarium and eventually took the Misen Hiking Trail – Omote route to the top of Mt. Misen (535meters). This path is known for the rock formations and the nature on the way. It didn’t take me long to see a group of deer and a resting Grasshopper near a patio. After that it was mostly rock formations and trees and little shrines in the rock formations.
The route was steep with a lot of big steps where throughout the years the centre piece of the stone has withered down. Increasing the height to sometimes nasty highs. This route is 3.2km long to the top of Mt. Misen. On the way I’d also get the opportunity to hike to the top of second mountain first. Mt. Komagabayashi, with it’s 509 meters top it’s only a few meters below Mt. Misen and still worth the sight. As there’s no special observatory there I actually liked it a bit more. Definitely worth those few extra meters on a dead end! Near here I consumed my lunch aka, melonpan. And proceeded my way to Mt. Misen.
When finally there I bought myself a commemorative pin. As I do think this climb was worth all the effort. And it supports the cleaning-up of the site, so why not.
Now it was time to head back down. As I didn’t fancy walking down all the way again, albeit over a different path. I decided to take the rope way down. Little did I know the rope way was still a 30 minute walk. And the from the lowest rope way station there’s a bus to the city centre, every 20minutes. As as full bus just left I decided to walk the last part trough the Momojidani park.
By now the tide has turned and the torii can be seen floating in the water.
Back in the centre I made my way to the pier and took a ferry back to the mainland. As I noticed there was a JR railway station nearby I went there and took a train back to Hiroshima.
Time for dinner! As I am in Hiroshima I thought it would only be logical to try out some Okonomiyaki. Asked my hostel reception for a recommendation and went to Henkutsuya. I took a pork-egg-cheese-mochi Okonomiyaki. And truyh be told, I couldn’t even finish this thing.
Tomorrow it’s time for a history lesson about World War II