Miyajima-romantic ferry crossing, momiji, oyster and fawns

On my second trip to Miyajima island, I got to enjoy a lot of firsts as well. The weather was a bit misty and the trip on the ferry a bit cute and romantic.

View from the ferry

 

 The Itsukushima shrine  from the sea

I enjoyed the view from the ferry and the approach to the pier. And on the way to the temple (Ometesando street) lots of shops sell spoons, oysters and momiji cakes (maple shaped cakes). The place fares up beautifully in autumn and we were just there at the right season.

 

The world's largest rice scoop (oshakushi 大杓子)...for real!

And so we got to see a giant rice spoon and admire how they make the momiji cake, an example of cultural expectation (show how cleanly and perfectly you do it to improve sale, and locally made too) and industrial culture (well there is a machine for it).

 

 The making of momiji cake

 

 

Yum, oysters

 And who could resist the oysters?  Baked, grilled, tempura, pick your favourite seasoning and voila. And remember to sit down to eat, it is bad form to talk and eat. Besides the recycle bin is only next to the snack shop. I think it is also good marketing thing because the more people gather in front of the shop, the more popular it looks like, therefore attracting more customers. On the practical side there is less chance you do end up with sauce all over your clothes while sitting. 

Personally I would have eaten at every other shop but with the parents I had to behave better. Besides I still had that awesome buffet breakfast from the hotel in the stomach.

As we approached and entered the temple, the vermillion colour was beautiful and truly uplifting. The contrasting white plasters and shoji (paper walls) were reflecting the lights from the sea, as the sky cleared up.

Tori view from the temple

 

Omikuji (fortunes)

It was my first time visiting the temple and although it reminded me of the Imperial palace in Kyoto (red and white also), the red colour is much lighter in Miyajima and the sea breeze made it very pleasant.

 Vermillion

 These are wooden structures that always amaze me for their craftsmanship involved and the care given to them to last this long. 

Miyajima is the kind of island one would like to live into for a quiet life, only a ferry away from the urban Hiroshima. I wonder how it is in the summer. It has a primal forest so would be great to explore plants for example.
Being one of the top 3 scenic places in Japan, it was not overcrowded though bustling. It can be enjoyed by young and old alike, with great outdoors and cute cafe, hiking and camping places waiting to be explored.