Off we went this morning with Rose as tour guide we negotiated the subway, then the JR line (free with our JR pass), then onto the ferry (also free with our JR pass) and bingo bang we were on Miyajima Island by 10am… good work team!!
We marched along the shore to the Itsukushi-ma- jinja. A shrine that sits in the water and is an iconic photo. I think one of the most photographed places in Japan but its on my camera so I can’t show you right now!!! We walked around the temple which usually sits in the water at high tide but unfortunately the tide was heading out, which does detract from the majesty of the setting somewhat.
Then we set off up the hill to find the ropeway…a giant cable car thing. We were told that there was a shuttle bus to take us to the ropeway but we somehow missed that and had to keep walking up and up. Now that isn’t so bad, I thought I’d got there nicely maintaining my end but then when we got to the ropeway it said 100 steps up to it…I nearly died at that point. But what do you do? Up we went and with wobbly knees (that is me not Rose) but in fact we were both very wobbly when we got up in the fucking air with a sheer drop to our deaths should anything go wrong. Suffice to say we made it, only to find that that was a midway point and we had to climb more steps to the next stage…fucking hell!!
When we finally got to the top there is a walk to the tip of the highest mountain on the Island Mt Missen. Well there was no way I could do that bit but Rose went off like a true soldier and conquered it. She said it was horrendous with steep steps heading up. In fact her super duper App told her that she had climbed 65 stories….fair dinkum???!!! She also reported that she saw a snake tumble off the cliff side…was she hallucinating or was this true…we will never know!!
Anyway she came back in one piece although sweaty and a bit flustered. I think the view from the lookout I climbed to, although a very poor achievement by comparison, was probably just as good. I mean once you’re that high the view can’t get much better. So back we came on the ropeway back down, down, down. This time when we arrived back the shuttle bus was there and we gratefully jumped on it (where the hell was it on the way up??). Down to town and I spied some oysters being grilled over a fire. I couldn’t resist and they were truly to die for. We then had a well deserved lunch (I had congee eel). Then the next best thing and what probably made Budd’s day was that she espied a mojito stall with a lovely girl doing a roaring trade selling mojito’s to the masses. We/she got one and it was delicious!!
Back on the ferry, back on the train, totally exhausted and back to the hotel for a rest. A break, feet up, before Rose knocking on my door to find somewhere to eat once again!
Another debacle trying to find a decent meal as we walked the streets to find a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet. It had vanished! There was nothing for it but to come back to the area we know so well near the hotel and eat tonkutsu and drink sake.
We are now back in out luxury hotel having a nightcap. Heading off to Kyoto tomorrow for out final jaunt before Tokyo then home.