Miya Jima

The island of Itsukushima, including the waters around it (part of Seto Inland Sea), and are within Setonaikai National Park.

This walkway leading to the main shrine and temple is one of the few things I've ever had to duck under in my entire life...

Itsukushima is mountainous and sparsely settled. It does have an elementary school and a middle school. There are no traffic signals.

But they do have a fire department. And, on the day I visited, it was a city-wide holiday celebrating the Festival for the Prevention of Fires (as you can imagine, when your entire city is based on historical wooden structures, and a national forrest, it makes sense). What doesn't make sense are the heads of the fire department presenting their guest of honor (a penguin in a hat and tie) with an award for keeping the town free of fires for the year. You can't make this stuff up.

And, for a little icing on the cake, I present you with Nick Bono towering over a door. I tried telling you people I was bigger over here...

What I was really excited about was running into this wedding procession while on the island. It's considered one of the "three most beautiful places" in Japan, and it is an honor to have your wedding here. An interesting side note, because the island is considered "pure", human activities are not allowed to occur. So, when a woman is pregnant she must go to the mainland to give birth, and the sick or elderly must do the same to die.

This photo shows the new couple's "victory lap" around the town:

Frequent ferry services, operated by JR West (JR Miyajima ferry) and by Miyajima Matsudai Tourist Ship, carry traffic between the island and the mainland. The trip takes about ten minutes. There is an hourly express passenger ferry to Hiroshima harbour.





Miyajima's maple trees are renowned throughout Japan, and blanket the island in crimson in the autumn. Momiji manju, pastries filled with azuki jam or custard, are popular souvenirs, and carry maple-leaf emblems. Many other varieties such as chocolate and cheese are also available. Because the island is sacred, trees may not be cut for lumber. Deer and monkeys roam freely. Deer are considered sacred in the native Shinto religion because they are considered messengers of the gods.

And the Japanese love getting photo ops with them...

A style of wooden spoon used to serve cooked rice, without impairing the taste, is said to have been invented by a monk who lived on the island. This style of spoon is a popular souvenir and there are some outsized examples around the shopping district.

And, here is a picture of me, in front of the world's largest wooden rice spoon....




The peak of Mount Misen, at 535 m, is the highest point on the island. Miyajima Ropeway carries visitors to within a 30-minute hike to the top. There are several sites related to the historical Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi near the top. The island also contains the Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden.