As my time of study abroad is coming to an end, I want to get the most of it and visit all my favourite places. Whether it is the okonomiyaki shop called Banana (People in Hiroshima, please, go there and say I’ve sent you! The owner is so nice!), one last drop by at the place of my part-time job or the nice island of Miyajima.
I doubt that anyone remembers, but Miyajima was the first place I went to outside of Hiroshima city, so it has a very special place in my heart. I’ve been there about 5 times now, by myself, with other people, being showed around, showing around, exploring, … and yet there always seems to be more. Perhaps it has something to do with the kisetsukan, the sense of seasons and the way they change in Japan, making even a familiar place seem fresh and new. Or just maybe Miyajima is a special place for me and I shouldn’t overthink it too much.
So, let’s now talk about my favourites, some more touristy than others~
1/ Daishoin temple
By far my favourite place in Miyajima that I just can’t recommend enough. Honestly, whenever I hear people from Hiroshima saying that they haven’t been I get angry. First of all, it is so much nicer than the Itsukushima shrine. Yes, of course, that one has its charm too, but Daishoin, man! It is a little bit of an uphill walk to reach it, but if you take the side walk instead of the main stairway, you can enjoy the many small (somewhat creepy) Buddhist statues with handmade red hats. Once you get to the main area, make sure you go to every little shrine because there’s something special round every corner, especially the temple at the very top with a rather dark hall with a ceiling and walls that are a work of art. And, moreover, after having Covid, this was the place my sense of smell worked for the first time in a month thanks to the strong odour of incense.
2/ Miyajima Public Aquarium
Recently I’ve realized that I’m a fan of aquariums. Do I feel kinda bad for the fish that are not in their natural habitat but in a glass tank instead? Yeah… But do I love watching them and calming down my anxious mind? Yes!! To be honest, I didn’t really expect much of this aquarium, but I was pleasantly surprised. There’s a tank with turtles and there was one that seemed to struggle to swim up to the surface. I have to admit that at first I thought it was kinda funny but then I noticed that one of the legs must’ve been injured in the past. After that, I changed my mindset and this turtle became my hero. Then, another thing was the live show of sea lions preforming different tricks and it was really fun. They’re like big puppies! And one more thing that was very significant in this aquarium was me overcoming my fear of touching/ being touched by fish. I was by myself and I was just hyping myself up while all the kids where having fun without a second thought. But I did it! 😀
3/ The coast
It is an island, so there’s plenty of coast in Miyajima. Indeed, one of the best-known spots is the big tori gate by the coast. What I am talking about though, is the other side of the island. Miyajima is very popular with both foreign and domestic tourists, so it might get a bit overwhelming. That’s when you need to escape to the less touristy side with beaches (great for a nice cooling dip in the unbearable Japanese summer heat) or a little adventure trying to find the best hidden gems (and when I say hidden, I mean it, really. Going through bushes and a pond just to see what on the other side. Good fun!)
4/ Age-momiji-manjuu
Okay, okay, this is a must-try for anyone going to Miyajima. It is definitely a very touristy thing to do, but you just have to, no way around it. I don’t make the rules. That’s it, no more words needed, just enjoy the fried goodness of the little confection.
5/ Hokoku shrine
Also known as Senjokaku hall is a large building on a hill with a shrine and artwork inside, but, what’s more important for me, great views. With an entrance of only 100¥ and a gentle breeze blowing through the structure, it is just made for a lovely rest when you can just sit there and watch the sea on one side, or Daishoin and the mountains on the other. It really has a special, calming atmosphere and that’s why I love it.
Ahh, so many good places and things… And so many more to discover! Until next time, Miyajima ♥
