Miyajimaguichi Ferry Port: about 45 minutes by train from JR Hiroshima Station. On my way to Miyajima Island (considered to be one of the top 5 most beautiful places in Japan). The ferry ride there only takes about 10 minutes.


Miyajima Island: A landscape photo of the island from the ferry. Overcast and raining hysterics. Miyajima is an extremely sacred island and considered to be the home of the Japanese Gods. By government regulations, no one is allowed to be born or die on the island.


Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine: An amazing Shinto shrine built in 1168. It's a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The shrine looks like it's floating on water when the tide comes in.

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Miyajima Torii: The Torii gate guards the island. When you pass through a Torii gate you are entering the land of the kami (Japanese for spirits). When the tide recedes you can walk right up to the gate and look for shellfish.


Dinner: I stayed at an amazing traditional hotel called Kinosuikan. It's one of the few hotels on the island with a natural hotspring spa. You get a free complementary drink when you arrive and there's also a library where you can chill and help yourself to traditional Japanese tea. Dinner was amazing and never ending - overlooking a Japanese zen garden. The price? An amazing AUD $150 a night!


After dinner I went for a casual walk around the island. Miyajima is amazing at night with many Japanese visitors walking around in their yukata (traditional robes). As you can see the tide has risen and the torii gate looks as though it's floating on water.


Breakfast was incredible. A mini BBQ with fish fillets and a variety of dishes to go with the rice. The hot pot contained delicious miso soup .

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I got up early the next morning to catch the high tide. The Shrine looks most incredible early in the morning!


Panoramic view of Itsukushima Shrine.


The Torii Gate at high tide!


Me in shorts ready to hike the highest peak on the island - Mount Misen.


Up Mount Misen: For the fit you can hike your way up to the the peak of the mountain from the bottom. However for the moderately fit (such as myself) you can take the ropeway car up halfway and cut about 2 kms of steep hill off your track.


When you exit the ropeway station you'll be greeted with the sacred Miyajima monkeys.

VIDEO: Miyajima Monkeys Nit Picking.

The Miyajima Monkeys roam freely around Mount Misen. Of course you're advised not to touch them because they do occasionally attack the over enthusiastic tourist (usually in groups of 20).


I highly recommend hiking up Mount Misen!!! The hike to the summit takes about an hour and the track is filled with amazing rest stops consisting of shrines and temples dating back hundreds of years. This is the Buddhist Temple Daisho-in where a candle lit flame inside the temple has been burning since AD 806 - that's over 1200 years!


Just before you pass the summit you need to pass through a rock tunnel... Not as low as it seems.


On top of Mount Misen! Nothing but a great view and a great sense of accomplishment (there's also a resting station where you can cool off and buy ice-cream...)


Itsukushima Shrine: after my descent from the summit it was time to enter the shrine. It was about 1.00pm and you can see that the water is starting to recede.



The shrine weaves around like a maze and is painted bright red. I've been to many temples and Shrines in Japan and I have to say this one is probably one of the most amazing and unique.


On Miyajima you'll see deers wandering around freely. The deers are extremely sacred and considered to be the messengers of the gods. They love mingling with the tourists and when you're not paying attention they'll come at you and start chewing on your shirt. If you say hello to them in Japanese they even bow to you!


Traditional Japanese sake.


One of the most famous traditional Japanese dishes in Hiroshima is Okonomiyaki. It's made from an egg batter topped with noodles, seafood, vegetables and sauce. Sitting there and watching the chef cook it on an open grill is a spectacle itself.