On our last day we checked out of the hotel early, stored our luggage, hopped on a train and caught a ferry bound for Miyajima Island. Miyajima is considered sacred and pure in the Shinto religion. It was built to worship the island as a Goddess. Apparently there are 3 rules to respect when visiting to the island: 1. No cutting down trees, 2. No giving birth, and 3. No dying.
Here is the five-storied pagoda. We came at a beautiful time a year with the cherry blossoms blooming perfectly.
Walking along the Itsukushima shrine
Mt. Misen is the highest point of Miyajima Island at 530 meters (1739 feet). It was a nice walk and very hot and a little humid. I wasn't sure at times whether we would ever get there but we did and it was worth it. 
We took some pictures of the scenery on the way back down...
The coolest thing had to be when we came back down Mt. Misen was the fact that the tide was out. We didn't know this would happen. We got to see the shrine and the Otorri gate and actually go out and walk out on the beach to each of them. It was also cool because the deer come right down on the beach when the tide goes out. It was such a warm day to go out on the beach. We even picked a piece of sea glass for our collection. It was an awesome day and an awesome end to our vacation. 
We wanted as much time to explore as possible. We spend about 6 1/2 hours on the island before we had to head back and get our luggage at the hotel and head back to the bullet train. I would have to say Miyajima was probably the highlight of our trip. It was a beautiful day (we should've packed shorts). It was just so peaceful. Our only regret was that the monkey's weren't out that day. They were all out in the forrest eating. It was absolutely breathtaking. The kids had a quick cocoa while we grabbed a coffee on the ferry...
We snapped a few quick photos from the ferry then we were off...
We arrived on the island and immediately the kids were excited when they saw the deer just roaming freely. They were friendly enough, but if they get hungry apparently they will eat whatever you have insight (we were warned ahead of time).
We snapped a few quick photos from the ferry then we were off... We arrived on the island and immediately the kids were excited when they saw the deer just roaming freely. They were friendly enough, but if they get hungry apparently they will eat whatever you have insight (we were warned ahead of time).Here is the five-storied pagoda. We came at a beautiful time a year with the cherry blossoms blooming perfectly. The Otorri gate standing in the sea leading to the Itsukushima shrine, is the symbol of Miyajima Island. This is the eighth Otorri gate constructed since the Heian period (794-1192). It was built in 1875 with the wood of camphor trees. It is 16 meters tall, the roof is 24 meters long, and the main pillars are made from single trees, 10 meters in circumference.
Walking along the Itsukushima shrine
Getting ready to go up the ropeway to Mt. Misen...
Mt. Misen is the highest point of Miyajima Island at 530 meters (1739 feet). It was a nice walk and very hot and a little humid. I wasn't sure at times whether we would ever get there but we did and it was worth it. We took some pictures of the scenery on the way back down... The coolest thing had to be when we came back down Mt. Misen was the fact that the tide was out. We didn't know this would happen. We got to see the shrine and the Otorri gate and actually go out and walk out on the beach to each of them. It was also cool because the deer come right down on the beach when the tide goes out. It was such a warm day to go out on the beach. We even picked a piece of sea glass for our collection. It was an awesome day and an awesome end to our vacation. 
The world's largest spatula...
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