By far, the best way to experience Itsukushima (IT-sue-coo-she-ma), also known as Miyajima (me-YA-gee-ma), located in Hiroshima, Japan, is to stay there overnight in one of the many inns. This allows you to see the daytime tourist sights, the nightime activities, the serene morning and to experience a traditional Japanese breakfast, if your choice of inn offers one.
The early morning on Miyajima is quiet, peaceful and magical. There are almost no people out and about around sunrise and it feels like you are alone in the world except for the silent and majestic Otorii straddling the border between common and sacred areas.
If you look closely, you may find some little friends sharing your quiet space.
Normally this is a bustling area with tourists standing in line for their picture at this famous photo spot. The sea back toward Miyajimaguchi (me-YA-gee-ma-goo-chi) is as still as a pond. Maybe you will find your own secret path to explore.
Soon, as the sun rises a bit, the world starts waking up. The views around Miyajima become a little less magical but no less beautiful. You take in your last moments of peace and solitude and think about the day ahead.
As the first ferries make their way from Miyajimaguchi, you know that the quiet time is coming to an end and one thought takes over your mind – – – BREAKFAST!
Our breakfast at the hotel was a very nice buffet of traditional Japanese breakfast foods. Starting with a bowl of either steamed rice or rice soup, you add a delicious fish filet, many different kinds of pickled vegetables (both vinegar and miso flavored), a kind of souffle (egg cake) that might take the place of an omelet in a western breakfast, a hot seafood soup (see the flames in the picture), some tofu, seaweed and buns.
After breakfast, we went back outside to see the island waking up. The deer were back looking for their breakfast, day-trippers were arriving and the rickshaw tour guides were showing tourists around.
Something you definitely need to remember is to wear a hat that covers your ears or bring a parasol or umbrella to shade you from the sun.
We were looking forward to an adventurous day ahead; first, a look at the renowned Itsukushima Shrine, then to another landmark, the Dashoin (DA-show-in) Temple and after that a tour of the Miyajima Public Aquarium. I’m glad that we stayed in Miyajima for a night so I could see how beautiful and peaceful this island is without the tourist crowd.
Miyajima
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