Miyajima’s love
Miyajima is a scenic and famous small island west of Hiroshima. The whole island is considered to be a spiritual entity. Miyajima is known for it’s orange Torii (symbolic gate entrance to shrine area) standing in the water off the coast of the island. It is one of the most photographed views in Japan.
The first shrine was founded in 593 AD. The land was regarded as so sacred that the famous Tsukishima Shrine was built over the water to avoid offending the Gods. When people eventually inhabited the island they were forbidden to till the ground, give birth, die or be buried on the sacred ground. . Even today there are no hospitals or cemeteries on Miyajima Island.
You have to catch it at high tide as at low tide, the torii is surrounded by a muddy shoreline. Getting a good picture is next to impossible as the whole span of the shoreline is covered with tourists. Asides from a handful of local residents, the rest of the population consists of foreigners and old Japanese tourists. .
Like in Nara, you can see a lot of deers walking around freely in the Miajima area.
Since the weather was pretty mild and clear, we decided to take the ropeway up to Mount Misen first thing in the morning and come down walking in the forest with nice view on the Torii and around. .
