Shunbun no Hi: Mystical Miyajima

Shunbun no Hi （春分の日/ Vernal Equinox Day) was on 20th March this year, which meant a day off from Japanese lessons! I decided to go to Miyajima; a small island in the Setoda Inland Sea, a few miles from Hiroshima.

Miyajima is most famous for its temples, floating tori gate and roaming deer (who like to steal food from unsuspecting tourists). 

It's very easy to get to Miyajima from Hiroshima Station - just take the JR Sanyo Line （山陽線）to Miyajimaguchi（宮島口）(about 30 minutes and ￥400). But whatever you do, DON'T make the mistake I made. I worked out it would be slightly cheaper to buy the combined tram and Miyajima Ferry pass from the station. So I set out on the number 2 tram for Miyajima. The journey lasted over an hour (T_T) For part of the journey, the tram ran parrallel to the Sanyo line. Every time I saw one of those trains whizz past, I died a little inside. I felt like Sen from Spirited Away when she got on the train to Zeniba's house: seeing countless people getting on and off on their daily commutes. With the exception of an annoying young Japanese couple holding hands and giggling all the time. They were in for the whole journey too. It was just getting better and better... 

After the train, there's a short ferry crossing to Miyajima. There are two ferry companies, only one of which you can travel on if you were stupid enough to buy that travel card! If you stand outside the main cabin, towards the front right of the boat, you'll be able to get the best pitcures of the Tori Gate and Itsukushima Shrine as you approach. 

It was quite a gloomy day when I went, but the mist shrouding the top of the mountain (called Mt Misen) made it seem even more mystical and special.

I met my first deer straight after coming out of the ferry terminal. It was just standing there, not minding all the people streaming past it. They're very docile (I've seen toddlers hanging onto their tails and they don't so much as blink) although, if they smell food they become blood-thirsty predators. 

Look at them rip that cabbage to pieces. Sheer brutality

You can see the blood-lust in their eyes...

Miyajima is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site (and one of Japan's 'Must See Sites'), which is supported by wooden columns over the beach. This means, if you plan you trip well, you'll be able to see it at its most beautiful, at high tide. Although, if you spend a long time on the island, you'll be able to walk out to the Tori gate at low tide. 

Low tide at Itsukushima Shrine

Inside the shrine

I'm not sure what these are, but people would pick them up with two hands and shake them around their heads. One of the many pray-aiding instruments the Japanese use at shrines perhaps?  

I spotted another pagoda! I decided to go home and research how to get to this one, before trying to do it myself (and accidentally finding myself at the top of another mountain again...)

Another pagoda! Bigger, but I still think the smaller one is prettier. 

A weeping cherry blossom tree

 There's also a shopping street, filled with perfect omiyage and the world's largest rice paddle. 

Yes, you read that correctly. The world's largest rice paddle. "Why?!" I hear you cry? Miyajima is famous for rice paddles/scoops. And the Japanese have one or two eccentricities (it's best to just smile and go along with it...)

At 7.7 metres long, 2.7 metres thick and weighing in at 2.5 tonnes, it's not very practical. You'd need one hell of a rice cooker to put this to use. It was made to commemorate Itsukushima Shrine being made a UNESCO site.

For anyone coming to Hiroshima, Miyajima is a must see! I've already been there about 4 times... I'm already planning when I next have time to go again! I love Miyajima!