Visit to Hiroshima - November 2004
Day 2 - Miyajima Island - Itsukushima Shrine and Maple Trees
Miyajima island is considered by the Japanese to be a very sacred place. There are numerous shrines dotted around the coast, the most famous of which is Itsukushima shrine. This particular shrine juts out into the inland sea towards it's symbolic "Floating Torii" or gate. Many people were saddened to hear that the shrine was badly damaged in a typhoon this year, however the main areas have been skillfully restored and most of the shrine is now open. The shrine itself is pretty extensive and even boasts it's own Noh stage.
The island is also famous for rice paddles (including - of course - the biggest one in the world), oysters (which we were forced to gorge ourselves upon) and little cakes shaped like maple leaves (with funky machines to make them too)!
 Delly looking funky and ready to explore! |
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Deer... |
 ...deer... |
...deer. (sorry) |
 Itsukushima Torii |
 Itsukushima Torii and Adele |
 Coins wedged into the Torii |
 A suspicious deer |
Looking out to sea |
 Pagoda on Miyajima |
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The leaves were gorgeous, and these photos really
don't do the scenery justice. It is pretty easy to see why the Japanese
go crazy about Kouyou (leaf changing season). On the other
hand it may just be that living here for so long, not much surprises
me anymore! |
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 They start them young! |
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| We took a series of cable cars up to the top of the mountain in the hope of seeing some monkeys - but I think our big Gaijin feet scared them off. There was a spectacular view however, so all was not lost. | ||
 Part of the spectacular view |
 Happy Delly in a cable car |
 The next island |
 A parting view of the Torii as we headed for the ferry |
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If you do decide to snaffle these pics to put on another website, I'd appreciate a little credit!
