Miyajima and Itsukushima

From Miyajimaguchi train station, there are two ferry options to get to Miyajima. I chose the JR ferry, because I was traveling with the Japan Railway Seishun 18 Kippu train pass, so I was able to take the JR ferry at no additional charge. I did still have to pay the island tax (I think it was 100 yen).

This was my view from the ferry.

Itsukushima is best known for what people call the floating torii gate. It’s not actually floating, but appears to be, at high tide. The shrine itself sits in the inlet that the torii gate is in and dates back to the 12th century. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

About 500 free roaming deer live on the island.  Even though it has been illegal to feed them since 2008, many people don’t seem to know that and feed them anyway. Some deer are too bold. I saw one chasing a small older woman and biting at her white paper bag.

I will have a separate post about Miyao Castle ruins later.