13 Great Things You Must Do In Miyajima, Hiroshima
Boasting one of Japan’s Top Three Scenic Views in the form of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, Miyajima is on the radar of many travellers, not least because you can enjoy its spectacular sight by just taking a ferry from Hiroshima. However, Miyajima is more than Itsukushima-jinja Shrine as it is an interesting city that is not only brimming with history, culture and nature, but also showcases yummy local delicacies and even harmless wild deer! Here are ten exciting things you must do in Miyajima, Hiroshima.
1. Visit Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
Even if you do not know the name of the famous shrine in Miyajima, you must be familiar with picture-perfect photographs of its huge red torii gate majestically juxtaposed against the verdant mountains. This is the universal appeal of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, one that has been recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hailing from as far back as the sixth century, Itsukushima-jinjia Shrine was constructed to honor God, whose physical form took the shape of the entire island of Miyajima.
It is advisable for you to stay the entire day on Miyajima so that you can admire the various facets of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine at different timings. During high tide, it floats surreally in the water whereas travellers step out into the mud to see the vermillion gate up close and personal during low tide. You can be one of them! Do take note that the torii gate is currently being repaired and all the scaffolding is expected to be removed by the end of 2022.
2. Admire the Deer
What’s a mythical island without magnificent creatures? Enhancing Miyajima’s appeal, wild deer roam freely on the island and are regarded as the messengers of God. Because they are of the native Shika variety, they are not readily found elsewhere and thus, add a lovely dimension to your Instaworthy shots of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine. Many avid photographers relish the challenge of strategically framing these wild deer against the backdrop of the shrine’s humongous torii gate. You may be keen to do likewise, for such harmony between animals and architecture makes for great quintessential Japanese photographs.
You may be tempted to feed these wild deer, for they appear tame and do not seem to obstruct the movements of their human counterparts. However, take note that visitors are not allowed to feed the deer so as to preserve the harmonious relationship they share with Miyajima’s residents. Watching them from afar and soaking up the soothing vibes they evoke is highly recommended, though.
3. Visit Momijidani Park
Designated as a National Monument, Momijidani Park serenely beckons visitors to immerse themselves in spellbinding nature. Located midway between Itsukushima-jinja Shrine and a towering mountain called Mount Misen, it provides relief for your eyes and rejuvenation for your soul with its lush greenery.
Incidentally, “Momijidani” means “maple valley”, so this park has a lot to live up to in autumn. It certainly does not disappoint because its 700 maple trees transform it into a colorful wonderland, delighting your senses with brilliant hues of red and golden yellow. Plus, wild Shika deer inhabit in the park, so it would be wonderful to encounter them in a different setting and observe how they interact with the natural surroundings around them. Feel your stresses melt away as you watch these deer, listen to the cicadas and birds and absorbing the calming vibes afforded by the vegetation.
The best time to admire the fall foliage is from mid-November till end November, so you may want to time it such that you will be greeted by such glorious scenes in Miyajima.
4. Climb Mount Misen
Wish to partake in picturesque panoramic views of the Seto Island Sea? While you are touring Miyajima, you should not miss out on the chance to take in the stunningly blue sky and sea and feel totally refreshed. To do so, you just need to climb up Mount Misen, which stands at a manageable 535 meters. The trek up the mountain is a memorable one as you get to encounter hectares of unspoiled primeval forest (incidentally another UNESCO World Heritage Site). Immerse yourself in the lush greenery and before you know it, you will reach the summit and arrive at Mount Misen Observatory, where you get to enjoy the bird’s eye view of Seto Island Sea. (Lonel Planet’s Best of Japan: Top Sights, Authentic Experiences)
If you are not feeling particularly outdoorsy that day, fret not. Give yourself a well-deserved break and take advantage of the two-stage Miyajima Ropeway. Doing so will leave you with a leisurely 30-minute stroll to the summit. Either way, it is an awesome way to detach yourself from the stresses of urban life and find your center in the warm embrace of Mother Nature.
5. Visit Shishiiwa Observatory And Shishiiwa Station
Can't get enough of magnificent sweeping views that take your breath away? If you resonate with this sentiment, read on. After witnessing the panoramic views at the top of Mount Misen, you can make your way down to Miyajima Ropeway. There, you will find Shishiiwa Observatory, another prime spot for you to soak up expansive views of the Seto Island Sea dotted with many islands. Since Shishiiwa Observatory is lower in altitude than Mount Misen, you will feel like you have gained access to a viewfinder offered by Mother Nature as you admire certain things in sharper focus. Surely, it will be fun to compare the views at Shishiiwa Observatory and Mount Misen as well as the feelings they evoke within you!
For those of you visiting Miyajima with your boyfriend or girlfriend, you must definitely check out Shishiiwa Station that is right beside Shishiiwa Observatory. Mount Misen is recognized as one of the 100 Lover's Sanctuary spots in Japan - so lighting the Fire of Oath together with your partner will be a cool romantic thing to do! You may also want to buy some couple gifts at the souvenir shop.
6. Try Out Anago-meshi (Conger Eel with Rice)
After walking up Mount Misen, you must be famished and ready to treat yourself to another feast: the gourmet kind. You are in luck because Miyajima is famous for its broiled conger eel with rice ("anago-meshi"). As its name suggests, anago are saltwater eels. Given that the Miyajima inhabitants use anago that come directly from the sea, you can imagine how fresh and succulent these heavenly eels taste.
As such, you may want to incorporate a trip to Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street and try out anago-meshi at one of the many specialty restaurants. The local chefs are known to use a marinate that accentuates the natural great taste of the anago. Then, they will cook rice with a umami-rich stock favored with the eel bones, place slices of grilled anago and drizzle the entire bowl with a sweet soy sauce. All this painstaking effort goes to blend the various tastes and textures harmoniously so that you would feel that the juicy and tender anago melts in your mouth. Anago are known to replenish one’s strength and energy, so you will definitely feel as fit as a fiddle after tucking into a bowl of such divine yumminess.
7. Shop at Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street
Besides its restaurants, Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street also draws travellers due to its impressive line-up of souvenir and handicraft shops. Stretching for about 350 meters, it is neither too long nor too short, thus guaranteeing you a few fun-filled hours of retail therapy. Miyajima is known for its wide array of handicrafts, including wooden rice paddles, wooden trays, pottery, and paper crafts, so you can be sure that you will be able to buy suitable gifts for your loved ones back home. The wooden spatulas, in particular, are believed to bring good luck to their recipients. In fact, the world’s largest wooden spatula - amounting to 7.7 meters long and 2.7 meters wide - can be found here, so do not forget to take a photo with it so as to impress upon your family and friends that you have bought them a culturally significant gift!
Also not to be missed is a local dessert called momiji manju. A steamed bun shaped like a maple leaf, momiji manju is available in various flavors that range from red bean paste to cream and even cheese and chocolate. This makes it easy for you to take a break from shopping anytime and tuck into the ones that entice your tastebuds.
8. Visit Miyajima Public Aquarium
Since Miyajima is situated in the middle of Seto Island Sea, you may be curious to find out more about the delightful array of marine creatures that inhabit this area. You are in luck then, for Miyajima Public Aquarium was given a fresh look and reopened to the public in 2011. It's a stroll away from Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, which makes it easy to fit into your itinerary. A two-storied building, it is home to over 13,000 marine animals hailing from 350 different species! No wonder Miyajima Public Aquarium is chock-full of interesting pools, including but not limited to Sea Lion Pool, Penguin Pool and Whales of the Seto Island Sea.
What makes this aquarium truly special is its fascinating interactive activities that allow you to get up close with selected marine creatures. Children and the young at heart will gravitate towards the Rocky Shore of Friendship, which allows visitors to touch fishes and marine animals. If you wish to beef up your knowledge, feel free to attend the Fun Lecture of Animals and have your burning questions about the marvels of the sea answered. Also not forgetting Miyajima Public Aquarium's signature sea lion live shows!
9. View the Kangen-sai Festival
Nothing beats experiencing local customs and traditions on a trip - and Miyajima has more than its fair share of charming practices to regale you with. Held on the night of June 17 of the lunar calendar, Kangen-sai Festival transports you back to the Heian era with its classical music and dance routine. It is not hard to imagine how this ritual would have played out in ancient times. The air almost feels magical as you look transfixed at musicians and dancers performing their craft inside an elaborately decorated boat. Muscular oarsmen will tow this boat out to sea in smaller boats and and take the musicians on a journey around the major shrines, including Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, Jigozen Shrine and Nagahama Shrine.
The talented 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), uplifting your mood with exquisite traditional court music. It is certainly music that befits the sacred aura of Miyajima. No wonder it is one of Japan’s three major boat rituals!
10. Visit Daishoin Temple
Spirituality is an integral part of the Japanese way of life. Nowhere is this more clearly illustrated in Miyajima than Daishoin Temple. You can easily incorporate it into your schedule as Daishoin Temple is a mere 5-minute walk from Itsukishima-jinja Shrine. Arguably the most important temple of Shingon Buddhism, it comprises a cave called Henjokutsu Cave (https://jw-webmagazine.com/the-hidden-wonder-next-to-the-famous-world-heritage-site-2f6a736d8e3d/) that proudly displays icons from all 88 temples included in the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Staunch devotees undertake this pilgrimage, painstakingly making their way from one temple to another but you get to have a close encounter with all these intriguing cultural artefacts under one roof! This is sure to accelerate your understanding of Japanese spirituality.
Another distinctive feature of Daishoin Temple is its row of Tibetan metal prayer wheels which are inscribed with sutra (Buddhist scriptures). Have fun spinning these wheels as you walk up the stairs, for it is believed that the action of spinning is the equivalent of reciting the sutra. Hence, the more you spin it, the more blessings you’ll receive!
In addition, you may want to visit Daishoin Temple in fall because it will then be dynamically flanked by the bright hues of red, yellow and Orange - courtesy of the maple trees that are present within its compound.
11. Visit Senjokaku Pavilion And 5-Storied Pagoda
Another temple that will capture your attention is the Senjokaku Pavilion. As Senjokaku means "pavilion of 1000 mats", you can imagine that Senjokaku Pavilion must be rather spacious as it is literally the size of a thousand tatami mats. Easily accessible from Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, it was initiated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a prominent Japanese historical figure well-known for his role in unifying Japan because he hoped to construct a place whereby Buddhist sutras would be chanted for fallen soldiers. Unfortunately, he passed on before the construction of Senjokaku Pavilion was completed. It is an unfinished work of architecture, but nonetheless, you will enjoy looking at the many ancient paintings that hang from its tall ceilings.
Located right next to Senjokaku Pavilion is a 5-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.
12. View The Chinkasai Fire Festival
Celebrations for New Year’s Eve usually involve enjoying the revelry at a countdown party. However, if you wish to break from the norm and romp with the locals in something exciting and unique, the Chinkasai Fire Festival is sure to appeal to you. Travellers will be in for a warm and boisterous time on New Year’s Eve in Miyajima because surely, there is nothing better than fire to dispel the chill of winter and electrify the atmosphere! A time-cherished tradition harking back to the Meiji era, this festival was carried out by the priests of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine to allay residents’ fear of having their wooden houses being burnt down by fire. Although people need no longer be afraid of their residences being torched to the ground these days, this tradition is still being faithfully followed.
On New Year’s Eve, the priests of Itsukushima-jinja Shrine will stride towards the entrance with huge flaming pine torches and use them to light a bonfire. Mayhem ensues - the fun kind - as local residents enthusiastically rush to light their own pine torches that are several meters long. Some daredevils endeavour to spin their burning torches around while others hold them upright. Regardless of their preferred positioning, Miyajima natives will take their lit torches to the sandy beach where the torii gate is, and stand them up on their ends. These dancing tongues of flame not only illuminate the night sky, but also will make you passionately fired up for the new year ahead!
13. Eat Oysters Heartily
The final thing you must do before leaving Miyajima is to eat the large mouthwatering oysters that are found readily. Here’s a fun 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. Hence, devouring these delectable oysters with a gulp will surely gift you indelible memories of your stay in Miyajima. You can also choose to season them with ponzu, soy sauce or salt just so that you can experience for yourself the nuances in taste when the oysters are paired with different condiments.
Oysters are such an important aspect of life in Miyajima that the island hosts a popular oyster festival every February when these molluscs are in season. This event is held right next to the ferry port, as if to serve as a tangible reminder that you should not leave Miyajima without consuming its oysters. Just be mindful that the oyster stalls typically attract long queues, so be prepared to set aside some time to stand in line. You wouldn’t want to miss the ferry back to mainland Hiroshima!
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 not regret visiting Miyajima!
