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| I headed out for a morning stroll around Ujina Island |
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| What a beautiful sunrise |
I didn't pass up the chance and got up early to see it for myself. I took the picturesque walking trail around the island but sadly only made it halfway as my wife told me I should return before 7 AM for breakfast.
Along the route, I came across various information boards put by the Earth Museum Motoujina Hiroshima. I saw the following:
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| Earth Museum Motoujina Hiroshima |
花崗岩 (granite)
岩脈 (dike)
正断層 (a normal fault)
断層 (fault)
節理 (joint)
海食崖 (sea cliff)
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| Motoujina Beach |
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| Ujina Lighthouse |
I also got to see the small but scenic Motoujina Beach. From the beach, there was a wooded trail going up to the Ujina Lighthouse. It was scary at first as it reminded me of the film Wrong Turn, regardless, it didn’t stop my adventurous feet from transporting me up to the lighthouse. Nothing was outstanding with the lighthouse though and the view was also obstructed by the trees so I went back down to the beach using the same wooded trail.
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| Back to Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima for breakfast |
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| Heading to the Top of Hiroshima Sky Lounge at the 23rd floor |
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| Itadakemasu! |
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| Karin and Ella having fun |
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| The view from the Top of Hiroshima Sky Lounge |
My wife contacted me as I was heading back to the hotel, telling me to return to the hotel and go to the Top of Hiroshima Sky Lounge on the 23rd floor for breakfast. The restaurant serves excellent Western and Japanese cuisine. Aside from that, it provides a wonderful view of the island and Hiroshima City.
We left the hotel after breakfast and traveled to neighboring Hatsukaichi City (廿日市市). From Miyajimaguchi Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal to Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal, we took the JR West Miyajima Ferry. A round-trip ticket costs only 360 yen per adult and 180 yen per kid. From the ferry, we can already see the famed Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate of Miyajima Island.
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| Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal / Miyajima Port |
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| We got the lucky golden deer from Momoi Bussanten |
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| There were numerous Miyajima Deer near the port |
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| Thank you to our Kameyama family for bringing us to one of our dream destinations |
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| One of the main torii gates of the island |
Once on the island, we followed the seaside path going to the Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate. There were lots of deer around this area and like in Nara City, they were not afraid of humans too but they weren’t aggressively pursuing us and asking for food. They just watched people come and go and occasionally pose for a picture with tourists. Along the way, my daughter spotted a UFO catcher game at the Momoi Bussanten souvenir shop with cute deer plush toys and wanted to try it. We wasted a hundred yen on the first try but managed to get two plushies including the Lucky Golden Deer on our next try.
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| Family picture with the famed Floating Torii of Itsukushima Shrine |
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| We offered some prayers at Itsukushima Shrine |
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| Itsukushima Shrine |
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| Exploring Itsukushima Shrine grounds |
From there we continued and saw a spot where we could take a nice family photo with the Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate as our backdrop. Of course, we didn’t miss that opportunity. From there, we paid 300 yen per adult and 100 yen per child to enter Itsukushima Shrine.
I was quite disappointed with myself as I had left my goshuincho in the car when I left my backpack. Regardless, I contented myself with taking photos of the shrine grounds and the floating tori in the distance.
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| Daiganji's daimon |
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| Daiganji |
At the exit of the shrine was Daiganji. Mr. Toshi explained to us the history of the temple and the buildings in its vicinity.
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| Willow Alley |
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| Karin enjoying a retro game from one of the booths behind Itsukushima Shrine |
From there, we followed Willow Alley (柳小路) behind Itsukushima Shrine which led back to the front of the shrine. I told my wife that I wanted to check out the Senjokaku Pavilion on top of the hill and she said that I should do it quickly and then proceed to Starbucks Miyajima where they will wait for me.
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| Senjokaku Pavilion |
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| Inside Senjokaku Pavilion |
Senjokaku Pavilion is another historic shrine on the island. It has a beautiful view of the sea and the island. Visitors can even go inside the shrine for a small fee.
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| Coffee break at Starbucks Miyajima |
I didn’t stay long though as I didn’t want my family to wait too long for me. I quickly headed to Starbucks Miyajima and got there right when my wife was ordering drinks. We took our coffee break as an opportunity to rest and chat about our experience on the island.
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| Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street |
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| We got a stamp for our stamp collection |
After our coffee break, we walked through the Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street which is a strip of souvenir shops and restaurants on our way back to the ferry terminal. On the way, we passed by the Itsukushima Shrine World Heritage Monument and the Statue of Kiyomori Taira.
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| Back to Miyajima Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal to board the ferry back to Hatsukaichi City |
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| Inside the JR West Miyajima Ferry |
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| Bye for now Miyajima Island |
There were a lot more places to visit on the island but we were short of time and energy to do so. We rode the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal and then drove back to Hiroshima City (広島市).
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| Next stop: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum |
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| One of the displays inside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum |
Our day didn’t end yet though. We drove back to Hiroshima City and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. I was surprised that my young daughter was emotionally invested in the tragic history of the city as she tried to read every label on every display in the museum. She had so many questions that it reminded me of young students in my history classes back in the Philippines.
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| Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph |
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| Flame of Peace |
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| Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome |
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| Team Nicerio visits Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome |
From the museum, I went out to the vast Peace Memorial Park behind it and checked out the Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph and the Flame of Peace. However, the highlight of the trip was our visit to the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome. For me, it was the real symbol of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima. Before leaving, I quietly offered a prayer to the victims of the tragedy and also prayed that the world would never see another such disaster.
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| Driving around Hiroshima City looking for a place to eat |
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| Royal Host Sendamachi |
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| Inside Royal Host Sendamachi |
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| I tried the hamburger steak |
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| Back to Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima |
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| The Christmas tree was already removed a just day after Christmas 😮 |
It was already dark when we finished exploring the city. For our last stop of the day, we drove to Royal Host Sendamachi to eat dinner before driving back to Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima and wrapping up the day.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 61
Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 61Japan Diaries 4: Day 421
Japan Diaries 4: Day 423
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima
Ujina Island
Miyajima Island
Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate
Itsukushima Shrine
Daiganji
Senjokaku Pavilion
Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph
Flame of Peace
Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome
5 Things to Do in Ujina Island
10 Things to Do in Hatsukaichi City
10 Things to Miyajima / Itsukushima
10 Things to Do in Hiroshima City
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