Miyajima Island
EAT Kakiya
EXPLORE the many temples, Daishoin Temple was our fave
christina
Itsukushima, popularly known as Miyajima Island, is a glorious day trip from Hiroshima and is known as "Shrine Island." With a number of temples and pagodas throughout, the most famous of them is Itsukushima Shrine - a World Heritage Shinto shrine built on piers overlooking the bay. The most famous image of the shrine is the Floating Torii Gate that is seen as you approach the island and throughout various viewpoints on the island. The shrine itself is dedicated to the goddesses revered by the famous Samurai Taira Clan who were military leaders around 1100. The floating design was originally meant to maintain the devout nature of the shrine. That, coupled with the wild deer of the island that roam through the town make this special place remarkable.
We arrived early by ferry to explore the town and shrine and then decided to ascend Mount Misen via the cable car, which provided awesome views of the island and surrounding scenery. At the top, we were surprised to find The Lovers' Shrine also known as Kiezu-no-Reikado Hall. This Eternal Flame Hall is said to have been lit around the year 800 and has been burning continuously for more than 1200 years. Candles with prayers are offered to continue the tradition; it is said that a couple who comes here and offers their flame will be blessed with a deep and strong bond. Once we lit the flame of our candle we circumambulated the larger flame and placed it amongst the others in the shrine. There was a monk tending the larger eternal flame and offering prayers continuously while we were there. We were so blessed to have the luck to stumble upon this beautiful spot and if you find yourself on Miyajima Island - do not miss it. It was also interesting to find out that this shrine is where the Peace Flame at Hiroshima Peace Park originates from.
Once we offered our prayers, we decide to take the 3km winding hike down the hill (called the Daishoin Route - see link) which ended up being truly magical and spectacular. We didn't really know where we were going but just decided to wing it and go through the Tori Gate hoping to end up back in the town where the ferry was leaving from. The trail was so peaceful and we were the only ones on it as we winded down the hill and past tiny shrines built into the mountainside. We passed a few other tori gates and suddenly came upon the back of a much larger shrine complex which turned out to be the Daisho-In Shingon Buddhist Temple. What an amazing thing to find - especially as we had no idea it was there. We arrived just before they were closing but we were able to quickly go inside and take in the awe-inspiring Henjokutsu Cave which was filled with buddha statues and icons representing the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 Temples. It is said that visiting this cave is the equivalent of receiving the blessings from the entire pilgrimage route which covers 750 miles (1200km) and visits 88 temples on the island of Shikoku. It takes walkers on average 30-60 days to complete so it was an auspicious and blessed surprise for us to just walk right in to this sacred place. After the temple closed, we popped back on the trail and found ourselves exactly where we needed to be right before the departure of our ferry. All in all, it was an amazing synchronistic, sacred day filled with beauty and magic. Miyajima will always live on in our hearts - I can't wait to go back and spend more time there.
Miyajima is home to more than a thousand tame and curious Sika deer
The famous tori gate welcoming you to Miyajima island at low tide
The eternal flame
Our candle of love to be lit by the eternal flame
a monk tends to the 1200 year old fire
Temple of a thousand Buddhas in Miyajima
FOOD FACT: Miyajima's most notable food item are oysters, conger eel and the maple leafed shape pastry called momiji manju. They ususally come in three different flavours – custard cream, apple and red beans.