Every year, many visitors flock to Miyajima - a ferry ride away from Hiroshima City - hoping to witness the majesty of the world-renowned Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. However, Miyajima is more than Itsukushima-jinja Shrine as the following list will reveal. Here are ten things you must do in Miyajima, Hiroshima.
1. Visit Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
Itsukushima-jinja Shrine not only has a humongous red torii gate that captures your attention by standing tall and proud in the sea, but also has an intriguing history to boot. Legend has it that the entire island of Miyajima was regarded as the body of God. Hence, Itsukushima-jinja Shrine was built to honor God around the end of the sixth century. Subsequently, a warrior named Kiyomori Taira modified it to its current facade. It is recommended that you stay the entire day in Miyajima so that you can admire its majesty - once at low tide and another time at high tide. Mesmerising! No wonder it’s an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Ascend Mt. Misen
Miyajima is home to hectares of pristine unspoiled forest, which incidentally is also recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climbing enthusiasts will surely embrace the challenge of climbing to the top of Mt. Misen, which is 535 meters before sea level. But if you would rather not sweat it out, fret not because you can take advantage of the Miyajima Ropeway. Either way, you will arrive at Mt. Misen Observatory and get to feast on a beautiful panoramic view of the Seto Island Sea.
3. Visit a Five-storied Pagoda
There are only 22 five-storied pagodas in the whole of Japan - and one of them is in Miyajima. What’s more, this pagoda is cloaked in a vibrant vermilion robe, which is certain to brighten your spirits. Built in 1407 and towering over you at 27.6 meters, it boasts intricate carvings of dragons, leek flowers and lotus flowers, among others. Since it was constructed via Zen Buddhism building techniques that were influenced from China, this pagoda evokes a serene and calm atmosphere.
4. Visit Daishoin Temple
Many visitors are enamored with Japan's autumn foliage as it dazzles them with its bright hues of red, yellow and orange. As such, you may plan to make a trip to Miyajima and visit Daishoin Temple in fall. As the oldest temple in Miyajima, it has a stately aura that is nicely accentuated by the dynamic, eye-catching colors of the maple trees. You can easily incorporate it into your schedule as it is a mere 5-minute walk from Itsukishima-jinja Shrine. Daishoin Temple stands out from other temples in Japan because you will be greeted by the sight of hundreds of deity statues of children, which will bring a smile to your face.
5. Take Photos with the Deer
If Miyajima represents the body of God, then the wild deer inhabiting it are known as the messengers of God. These deer are of the native Sika variety and roam around the island freely. As they are tame and do not seem to obstruct the movements of their human counterparts, many visitors are thrilled to encounter them, especially when these adorable creatures are stunningly juxtaposed against the huge torii gate of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. You must be tempted to feed them, but unlike in Nara Deer Park, visitors are not allowed to feed these animals so as not to disrupt the harmonious relationship they have with the local inhabitants of Miyajima. Taking Instaworthy photos with the deer are strongly encouraged, though.
6. Eat Oysters Heartily
After you are done with sightseeing, head over to Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street. Replenish your energy by eating large mouthwatering oysters - a delicacy in Hiroshima. In fact, Hiroshima is the largest producer of oysters in the whole of Japan, and oysters cultivated in the Seto Island Sea are especially known to be as scrumptious as they are nutritious. You can devour these rich heavenly oysters with a gulp, or choose to season them with ponzu, soy sauce or salt. If you are a huge fan of oysters, you may even want to visit Miyajima in February to partake in its oyster festival. Itadakimasu!
7. Try Out Anago-meshi (Conger Eel with Rice)
Miyajima oysters are delicious, but take care not to eat too much, for you would want to save your stomach space for other local delicacies. One Miyajima dish you must try is broiled conger eel with rice ("anago-meshi"). The eels come directly from the sea, so you can imagine how fresh and succulent they taste. The locals cook the fragrant rice with a stock favored with the eel bones before placing slices of grilled anago and drizzling them with a sweet soy sauce. They certainly prepare this dish with a lot of care, so you can be sure that anago-meshi will entice your tastebuds in all the right places.
8. Shop at Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street
After you have had your fill, it's time to burn those calories, so why not stroll down Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street and stock up on the sovenirs which you wish to buy for your loved ones back home? A great choice would be a local dessert called momiji manju, which is a steamed bun shaped like a maple leaf. It's available in various flavors, ranging from red bean paste to cream and even cheese and chocolate, so you can find the ones that suit your recipients' preferences. Also, don't miss out on the opportunity to buy several traditional handicrafts that hail from Miyajima, including rice paddles, pottery, and wooden spoons and trays.
9. View The Chinkasai Fire Festival
If you are in for a boisterous good time, the Chinkasai Fire Festival that is held on New Year's Eve every year will be right up your alley. Carried out by the priests of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine during the Meiji era, this festival was celebrated to allay people's fear of having their wooden houses being burnt down by fire. These days, the locals may no longer be afraid of their residences being torched to the ground, but still pass down this time-honored tradition from generation to generation. On that day, they will gather near Itsukushima-jinja Shrine with huge pine torches, light them using a bonfire, take them to the sandy beach where the torii gate is, and stand these lit torches up on their ends. These dancing tongues of flame not only illuminate the night sky, but also bring some warmth to the chilly winter.
10. View the Kangen-sai Festival
One of Japan's three major boat rituals, Kangen-sai Festival brings you a trip down memory lane as you can awe at musicians seated inside an elaborately decorated boat and being towed painstakingly out to sea by burly oarsmen in smaller boats. These musicians play their heart out on nine different types of instruments ranging from the stringed ones (wagon, biwa, koto) to drums (kakko, taiko, shoko) and flutes (sho, hichiriki, ryuteki), filling the air with melodious classical court music. It is not hard to imagine how this ritual would have played out in ancient times.
Miyajima, Hiroshima - A Trip To Remember
Miyajima enables you to reconnect with nature and take a breather from the hustle and bustle of modern city life. Its charms are irresistible: fascinating history, yummy food, and quaint local customs. You will definitely not regret visiting Miyajima!
References
https://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/spot/spot_other.html
https://www.simonearmer.com/the-sacred-starving-deer-of-miyajima/
https://www.tsunagujapan.com/15-things-to-do-around-miyajima-hiroshima/
https://foodinjapan.org/chugoku/hiroshima/anago-meshi/
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/chugoku/hiroshima/miyajima/
https://jw-webmagazine.com/the-hidden-wonder-next-to-the-famous-world-heritage-site-2f6a736d8e3d/
https://en.japantravel.com/hiroshima/miyajima-oyster-festival/31740
https://gethiroshima.com/features/art-entertainment/festivals/chinkasai-fire-festival/
https://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/event/event_kangen.html
https://gethiroshima.com/features/art-entertainment/festivals/miyajima-kangen-sai/
