West of Hiroshima is Miyajima Island, one of the "three most scenic spots" of
Japan. All the guidebooks refer to great things as "one of the three best" --
this is clearly a Japanese idiom that allows you to tout something but
be humble at the same time.
The Island is very photogenic, with virgin forests with great fall colours,
and the shrine and famous floating Torii, of which you will see many
pictures below.
 | | (768 x 1024 - 89K) |
Nice view, shot by K, of the Torii at the entrance to Itsukushima shrine. The Torii is submerged at high tide. At low tide you can take these steps and walk out to it.
| |
|
 | | (1280 x 960 - 259K) |
The two-storey pagoda and turning leaves
| |
 | | (768 x 1024 - 190K) |
Happy, happy, Koi, Koi in a pond in the park with lovely trees behind.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 160K) |
As everywhere, Miyajima is packed with tour groups
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 160K) |
And the standard bunch of kids, these obviously more middle-school, posing by the Torii for their group photo, but happy to wave at the crazy westerner.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 90K) |
Nice shot of the Torii
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 155K) |
Pond of the shrine, with 5-story pagoda and lamp
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 105K) |
Prayers are wrapped and tied to the poles in the shrine, which is built over the pond.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 174K) |
The Torii is framed by trees. Western Hiroshima in the background
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 72K) |
Love that Torii
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 134K) |
The bay of Miyajima, with shrine, Torii and Pagoda
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 167K) |
The trees turn colour on the ridge. The forests here are virgin, unlike most of Japan.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 233K) |
A stunning red maple in the park above Itsukushima shrine
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 207K) |
The stream flowing into the shrine
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 99K) |
The five-storey pagoda, with the ever present lighting cable. (These things used to burn down all the time until they discovered lightning rods.)
|
