Hiroshima: Miyajima Island – getting there.

Thursday, 3rd April, 2014.

“The small island of Miyajima is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of Japan’s most-visited tourist spots.  Its star attraction is the oft-photographed vermilion torii (shrine gate) of Itsukushima-jinja, which seems to float on the waves at high tide – a scene that has traditionally been ranked as one of the three best views in Japan”  (Lonely Planet).

Frances was very keen to see Miyajima Island, so the next morning, off we went.

We could have picked up a few oranges, a giant icecream and a magnum of Moet on the way (my kind of cafe.)

Not to mention some gigantic oysters, Hiroshima’s speciality.

 

It was only a short walk from the ryokan to the river …..

 

….. which was lined with cherry blossoms.

 

Carol checks out our boat as it arrives.

 

Our mooring was not far from the Hiroshima dome.  This building, almost under the epicentre of the atomic bomb, was one of the few buildings in the city that survived the blast, even though all the people inside were killed.  The ruin of this building, just across the river from the Peace Park, has been preserved as a memorial.

 

Our little boat sailed along the pretty river.

 

 

We sailed past the atomic dome.

 

 

We passed an oyster processing plant.

 

This striking white building was visible on the mainland as we arrived on Miyajima Island, some 55 minutes later.  I must find out what it is …..

 

We could see the famous vermilion torii  as we docked, so we set off for a closer look.