The Shrine Island. Miyajima.

From Hiroshima, we will be taking a day trip to visit the nearby island of Itsukushima which is more popularly known as Miyajima.

The monument most famously identified with Miyajima is the Itsukushima Shrine which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Our journey to Miyajima will be via local train and ferry.   I hope we get to see the shrine as we ferry towards shore.

The Itsukushima Shrine is known worldwide for its "floating torii gate".

The shrine is located in a small inlet, while the torri gate is set out in the Seto Inland Sea  Both the shrine and its torii gate actually built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide.

The shrine complex consists of multiple buildings, including a prayer hall, main hall and a noh theater stage, which are connected with each other by boardwalks and are all supported by pillars above the sea.

Another item on the "must do while you're in Miyajima" list of things to do is to hike Mount Misen.  Located in the center of the island, Mt. Misen is the highest point on the island and on clear days, they say you not only have spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea but you can see as far as Hiroshima City. *praying for clear skies*
 

It is said that Buddhism was first practiced on Mt. Misen by Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism and so til today, Mt. Misen is considered to be sacred.. Near Misen's summit stand several temple structures, which belong to the Daisho-in Temple, which is also another must-see. 

A ropeway leads up the mountain from town, but it is also possible to climb up on foot.  There are three hiking trails leading up to the summi of Mt. Misen - the Momijidani Course, the Daisho-in Course and the Omoto Course. Of the three, the Daisho-in Course offers the nicest views and is not as steep as the other two. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the summit from town. You can probably guess which trail I'm going up on.  I'm thinking a ropeway ride down would be go.....save time and energy :-)

Reikado Hall

In addition to the Daisho-in Temple complex at the foothills of the mountain, there are also Buddhiist temples located near the summit - the Misen Hondo and Reikado Hall buildings are located along the trail, about five minutes before the summit.

I'm sure I'll be hungry after a good hike.  Miyajima is known for its oysters (yum!) and a local specialty known as momiji manju which are small cakes made in the shape of a maple leaf.

Traditionally, they're made with sweet bean paste, but cheese, chocolate and other variations are also available. I think I prefer the traditional sweet bean paste version. After all, I'm Asian.....what Asian person eats cheese in a cake?? :-)

Then, of all things, Miyajima is home to be the largest wooden rice scoop in the world.  A bit quirky.  Measuring 7.7 meters (25.3 ft) long, 2.7 meters (8.8 ft) thick and weighing a hefty 2.5 tons,  it is said to be made from 270 year old Zelkova tree. The scoop took almost three years to construct and went on display in 1996 to commemorate the designation of Itsukushima Shrine as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Apparently, Miyajima is known for its rices spoons, a bit of cultural heritage that dates back centuries.

According to legend,between the 1790s and 1800s a Buddhist monk named Seishin lived and worked in the Tokidera Temple. One night he dreamt of a deity known as Benzaiten, the Japanese name for the Indian goddess Saraswati, who held a traditional Japanese lute that the monk saw as a kind of magical rice spoon. Upon awakening he showed the people of Miyajima how to make this magical rice scoop and so the islanders did and they continue to do so to today.  Because there is not enough timber on the island to sustain the demand, presumably by tourists like me, for wooden rice spoons, the spoons are now made of imported wood.  Never mind, I think I will still bring back one!

Should be a fun day on the Shrine Island!