Hiroshima: Day 2

We spent the whole day at one of my favorite places ever: Miyajima.

I have been here multiple times, and love it a little more every time I come. Unfortunately, I seem to visit mostly in the summer, when oysters are out of season. 

We walked through Itsukushima Shrine, where we did the luck drawings.

At high tide, this whole area is filled with seawater so that this shrine looks like it's floating on the water.

Daisho Shrine: There's so much to see and explore in this shrine complex.

I also finally caved and wrote on one of these wish board things on a Daruma-shaped one. First one ever! 

And here, when they say they have stone statues...

they mean business. there are HUNDREDS here. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to capture the number of stone figures, concentrated in one garden very well.

We found a peaceful place in one of the little streams, where I dipped my feet into the cool water, splashed around a little, and then set up shop to write some postcards while my travelling companion took a nap.

We took the ropeway up to Mt. Misen, where we shared a cable car with a very lovely Israeli couple.

Walking up to the top from the cable car station (you take 2 cable cars and then walk for about 30 minutes). There were a bunch of statues at the top and along the way.

One of my friends had mentioned these to me. Momijimanju are manju that look like maples leaves. This place, fries them in batter and they are to die for. One is just enough that your sweet tooth is satiated, yet leaves you wanting a little more. I feel that 2 would be just too many, though. Just get one. Either custard or red bean. I got the custard and didn't regret my decision for a second.

There was a store nearby that had a really interesting selection of ramune. They have flavors that include: takoyaki, kimchi, and eggplant.

As usual, I was very sad to leave, but I feel that I will be here again some day. Hopefully with a little more time to explore the rest of this little island and during the winter so I can eat some oysters!!