May 6, 2016
Miyajima Island
- Ferry Fare: 180 JPY (~2 USD)
The Japanese husband of the Filipina is a very kind and patient man. He was so kind that he was fully willing to take us around. Although he does not speak English, my cousin could awesomely converse with him in what I think as a dialect but maybe it was Niponggo. Instead of looking at the roads, I was just mesmerized by how both of them could understand each other in their discussions.
Because we were on a private tour with my cousins, we did not have to worry about the travel from JR Hiroshima station (bullet train) to the pier where ferries depart frequently to the island, which takes just about 10 minutes. But the article here clearly describes how to reach the Miyajima island.
My cousins were so hospitable as if they were locals and I really thank them for that. ☺ Our new found Japanese friend (husband of Filipina) did not join us in the Miyajima walk, hence, a very patient man since he waited for us by the pier in Hiroshima.
To properly manage our time, we allotted the morning to spend in the island. Good thing that the famous attraction, the Itsukushima Shrine, was just a 10-minute walk from the Miyajima pier. We did not have to worry about how to roam around the island.
The overall scene was serene, very calm, and relaxing. I’d say it is a good place to reflect and meditate. Similar to the Hakone Shrine in Kanagawa Prefecture, the giant Torii gate seemed to float during high tide, which was a preferred sight rather than when the waters are low. So yes, we went at the right time!
We just took our time walking around, totally forgetting about the current condition (and perhaps already limitation?) of our legs. I thought “this is our last day and hey, we are in Hiroshima, one that carries a lot of history that is really well known to the whole world.”
