Low Tide
By noon, the tide was out, and the great torii that was floating in the morning was standing on wet sand, with people walking right up to it. Same torii, completely different view. Up on the hill above the shrine is the five-storey pagoda.
Omotesando
Lunch was snacks along Omotesando, Miyajima’s shopping street. Miyajima is famous for rice paddles and oysters, and there’s a Rilakkuma shop, which Minmin found within minutes. House rule: whenever we see a Rilakkuma shop, we must take a photo. No exceptions.
Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine is built out over the water on stilts, red corridors and halls connected by boardwalks. At high tide it looks like it’s floating. At low tide, it’s standing on the sand, which is less magical but lets you see how it’s built.
Oysters and Momiji
Back in Hiroshima, a burger to tide us over, then dinner: deep-fried oysters, because Hiroshima produces most of Japan’s oysters. And for dessert, age-momiji: Miyajima’s maple leaf cakes, deep-fried on a stick.
Tomorrow, the reason most people come to Hiroshima: the Peace Memorial Park.
Information About Itsukushima Shrine
A UNESCO World Heritage shrine built out over the water, with the great torii in front. At high tide it floats; at low tide you can walk out to the torii.
PS: Check the tide table before you go and plan around it: high tide for photos of the torii in the water, low tide to walk up to it.