Miyajima Oyster Festival

I was skeptical and afraid that it will be a tourist trap, but the island was well worth the visit. The deer, the Tori gate, amazing temples and (for me most important) really nice hiking trails. A full day well spent!

A nice excursion destination for anyone in the area. It takes about 90 minutes to get to the island from Hiroshima. There is a famous shrine, a great view from the mountain and lots of cute animals on the island. The easiest way to get there is by ferry. The JR ferry is even included in the JR Pass. Only the tourist tax (100 yen) has to be paid.

We spent two days walking the wonderful paths up and down Mt. Misen and around the east coast. So much to see. There is a cable car if you prefer. The iconic "floating Torrii" draws many visitors. The Daishoin temple is also a must-see. We stayed on the mainland and took the ferry $3.50 return daily.

Take the train for about 90 minutes from Hiroshima Station. Then take the ferry for 300 yen/one way. There is a temple, a tori gate with a pretty view. The oysters here are delicious, about 200 yen/oyster

Such a great island to visit, especially during spring when the cherry blossoms are blooming! Lots to do, lots to see and in recent years, more places to stay at to extend your trip here! I was able to experience most of the tourist oriented parts of the island in about 4-5 hours so it’s definitely a perfect day trip. There’s a lot more to do and see in the residential parts of the island but would require an earlier start or staying overnight. One thing to note is that unlike Nara, you should not be feeding the deer here. They are fed by the locals and they don’t sell any deer food. This doesn’t need to be said but do not litter as the deer will eat the trash off the floor. Watching some of these tourists toss garbage on the floor almost made me want to toss them into the ocean. But fortunately, I was reminded that if I did that, the deer wouldn’t be able to physically get revenge on them 😈. Overall an amazing island to take a day trip to. Would love to visit during the winter to experience a completely different atmosphere!