Miyajima is considered one of the 3 most important scenic places in all of Japan. Actually the most wanted image by the tourist when approaching to this small island south of Hiroshima is the huge torii inside the sea that welcomes the Itsukushima Shinto shrine. However he himself gives us the main clue to understand that Miyajima is not just a torii ... the reason for being built inside the sea is none other than preserving the sacred character of the whole island, so, in ancient times, you could only disembark at the Shinto shrine by previously passing under this arch, to purify the soul of the traveler.
This island was a surprise! The first ones who came to receive and welcome us were a deer group, more aggressive if possible than those of Nara. This time we take care that we didn't get the map hooked, although it was good that they were looking for it and sniffing the bullshit!
And of course, at this point of the year, what was always present were the trees well loaded with flowers. If I'm half yellowing with so much flower and so much pink!
The torii Miyajima symbol It is seen almost from the other side of the sea when you take the ferry. Once on the island, it is impressive in front of theItsukushima Shinto shrine,with his eternal orange and his wonderful and photogenic figure.
But they meet many interesting points on a walk on this island ...
One of them is the 5-story pagoda, just behind the main sanctuary. It was built in 1407 and has an imposing height of 28 meters! That beautiful!
And of course the important Itsukushima Shinto shrine. Originally built in 593 and remodeled in 1168, it has several buildings connected by corridors. He is famous for his unique construction and for the torii in front of him.
At this point we decided to separate. While Lety was strolling around the base of the island, between the market stalls, alleyways and the palette to stir the rice for sushi biggest in the world…… I undertook the ascent to the sacred mountain Misen. I started enjoying the road, which passed through Momijidani Park and next to a stream with waterfalls.
But I ended up sweating the fat drop with the last steps. I was already going crazy with so much step!
When I reached the top another surprise was waiting for me… besides the cauldron that hangs over a fire lit by Kobo Daishi more than 1,300 years ago without it having been turned off since then, and a bottle of water at the price of a cubata… I was expecting another path that led to the real top! After rethinking myself continue ascending or take those of Villadiego and pull down I decided first.
After an hour since I started the climb this time, I came to the true top of Mount Misen, the observatory at 535 meters above sea level. From here up there are beautiful views of the bay, the sanctuaries and temples and the torii ... Lety could not find her, and look to look at the ice cream stalls ...
The descent I did it for the "Daishoin course", which passes through several small sanctuaries and a beautiful Niomon gate. The hardness is still moderate, although as it is lowered I can only check it in the face of the people I am crossing. Infallible method ... now I think about how my face would be in the last meters of the climb, just half an hour ago ...
In the final part you reach the beautiful Daishoin Temple, of several constructions and with innumerable details that will leave you with your mouth open (such as the extraordinary entrance door, the lantern room, the countless statues of Jizos on the sides of the main staircase or the representation of the “Japanese pinocchio”)
In total it was exactly 3 hours up and down until I met Lety again, who was very happy to see her sweetheart again.
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