Miyajima

The island of Itsukushima, commonly known as Miyajima, is 30 minutes from Hiroshima by train.

Arriving by ferry presents one of the traditional views of Japan with the big red torii in the sea.

The island is inhabited by deers who eat everything, including clothes and maps!

Another building of note is the pagoda from the 16th century.

The island is famous for the Itsukushima shinto shrine, which looks like it is floating on water when the tide is right.


The central part of the shrine is the oldest noh theatre in Japan, even if it has been rebuilt at least once, like many old wooden buildings in Japan.

If you are lucky, you may see a wedding:


Depending on the season, you may come upon other less traditional sights, like a smoking tanuki...

...or these sculptures of gremlins, alien and predator