Itsukushima (Miyajima) - The "floating" torii gate and a hike to Mount Misen

 


Was it worth stopping in Hiroshima to visit the "floating" torii gate at the Itsukushima (Miyajima) shrine? As far as I'm concerned, definitely yes! Apart from being Japan's most iconic symbol, it is on a nice little island and you can hike to Mount Misen for some stunning views. Ideally, you should plan your visit in a way that you catch the low as well as the high tide. During low tide, you can walk to the torii gate, and during high tide it looks the best. I missed the low tide as the first boats were cancelled due to - well - low tide, and the torii gate was already in water. Anyway, I had time to climb Mount Misen and get back for the high tide. You could also take a cable car to the top of the mountain, if it is not cancelled due to bad weather as it was on the day of my visit. Not that I wanted to take it, as the hike is not that strenuous and there are several different trails. But only one of them offers a view of the torii gate from above.

Taking the boat from the Atomic Bomb Dome is the most convenient option, but not the cheapest. It cost ¥ 4100 return, as compared to the train-ferry combo that is around ¥1400 return. But I think it is reasonable and you can save time.

Maps of Itsukushima (Miyajima).







The day-trip in photos




The view of Ogonzan from the boat.


The port, the torii gate, deers, and the shrines and temples.









































The beginning of the hiking trail next to the Daisho Temple (Daishoin). It is the best one, as you can see the torii gate from two spots.






























































The Mount Misen Observatory.


















Continuing to the cable car upper station.





T-junction, with the most direct (shortest) hiking trail.




The cable car upper station.





A viewpoint a little above the cable car station. It offers views that you can't see from Mount Misen.














Back at the T-junction and descending via the short route.















Back in town, revisiting the temples, shrines and torii gate at high tide.





























Heading back to the port.









Popular posts from this blog

Countries

Image
     The world is yours. Where do you want to go next? Featured: Those countries are featured where posts with useful information are available—such as maps, practical details, guides, instructions, etc.—in addition to the many accompanying photos. 
More »

Avatar Mountains, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park - Day 1: Yuanjiajie & Golden Whip Stream

Image
  Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Zhangjiajie, near the town of Wulingyuan, is China’s oldest national park: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is the place that inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar, earning it the popular nickname "Avatar Mountains". The park covers a large area, with shuttle buses, cable cars, and even lifts operating inside to connect the main scenic spots. (Shuttle buses are free with the ticket; the rest are at an additional cost.) There are popular cliff-edge paths as well as quieter hiking trails. The national park is divided into 4 main areas, and the entrance ticket is valid for four consecutive days, which is useful if you want to explore each earea to some extent. It's not likely that you can hike every trail in four days unless you’re an extreme walker. The four main areas consist of Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Yangjiajie, and Huangshi Village (Huangshizhai), and between them are other locations such as the Gol...
More »

Leshan (very basic) tourist information with map

Image
  Many visitors come for just a few hours on a day trip from Chengdu—but that’s a mistake. You need a full day to properly visit the Leshan Giant Buddha , see it from the river, and explore the nearby Oriental Buddha Park and Wuyou Temple hill. At a leisurely pace, it could easily take two days. You can also do a day trip to Emeishan from Leshan by public bus, but in my opinion, it's better to stay overnight there—perhaps in a monastery below the Golden Summit. So, for Leshan alone, you’ll need at least one night, preferably two. The city itself is quite sprawling, modern, and tidy, but it doesn't offer many attractions. The train station is a bit far from the center, but public transport is a good option to reach both the city center and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Below are the tourist basics. 
More »

Leshan Giant Buddha - Walking tour and boat ride

Image
  Located near Chengdu, Leshan is home to the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Carved out of a cliff face, the 71 meters tall statue overlooks the junction of the Min and Dadu Rivers. You can walk up to the statue’s head and look down, walk down to its feet and look up, and view it from a boat. The area also offers distant but nice city views. You could do the walk and the boat ride easily in a short day, along with a visit to the Mahao Cliff Tombs and Wuyou Temple, both located between the Giant Buddha and the cruise port. In a longer day's program you can also include a visit to the Oriental Buddha Park, a separate and fairly large attraction (separate ticket required) that is well worth seeing — see the post about the Oriental Buddha Park . 
More »