2017 Private Summer Tour of Japan | Miyajima and Hiroshima

Aug 13 | Evan | No Comments |

After a few days of exploring Tokyo it was time to move to our next destination, Miyajima and Hiroshima.  We took the bullet train from Shinagawa all the way down to Hiroshima and then a local train to Miyajimaguchi before finally taking a ferry to the island of Miyajima.  As you can see, it’s quite the transfer to get to Miyajima from Tokyo, but Miyajima, considered to be one of Japan’s three most scenic places, is worth the effort to get there during a trip to Japan!

 

Besides the scenery, Miyajima is famous for the semi wild deer that roam free on the island.  I use the word “semi” because the deer are more or less completely adjusted to seeing humans and walking next to or even begging for food.  In some cases, like in the video below, if the deer on Miyajima think you have food, they will chase you!  If you go to Miyajima, hide plastic bags, don’t eat in front of the deer and avoid the baby deer as mom’s can be overprotective!  The baby deer are super cute though!

In addition to spending time on the island of Miyajima, we explored Hiroshima a little before moving on to our next destination, Kyoto.  The morning was spent at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, obviously a very somber experience but a important to learn about the horrors of what happened.  After the museum, thanks to Gluten Free Japan Tours, we went to an okonomiyaki restaurant, Koguma, that can prepare gluten free okonomiyaki before finishing up our day at Shukkeien Garden. 

See more photos below or the full report to see more posts from the custom and private photography tour of Japan.

2015 Fall Photo Tour of Japan | Miyajima

Feb 14 | Evan | No Comments |

After taking our time in Kanazawa and around Kanazawa, then a brief stopover in Okayama to photograph another garden and castle there, we made it down to the southern most part of the Fall Photo Tour of Japan, Miyajima and Hiroshima.  Miyajima is a small island off the coast of Hiroshima with beatiful scenery, old town, temples, shrines and one of the most iconic images of Japan, the floating Torii Gate.  Though as you can see from the photo below, when the tide goes out, you can walkup to and even through the torii gate.

During the day, it’s flooded with tourists but before they arrive in the morning and after they depart in the evening, Miyajima is a peaceful treat. I must have been over a dozen times now and I always enjoy staying and taking photos in Miyajima!  It’s also interesting to see the changes going on since my first visit in 2005, though I do miss the monkeys that used to be atop of Mt. Misen!

The short ferry ride back to Hiroshima allows you to explore another city in Japan if there isn’t enough for you in Miyajima.  The Peace Park, including the memorial museum for the atomic bomb are worth visiting while in Hiroshima and of course, Hiroshima’s favorite and classic dish, Hiroshima Okonomiyaki!

The 2015 Fall Photography Tour of Japan included Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kyoto!  Interesting in joining your own escorted tour of Japan with Japan Photo Guide?  Contact us to get the planning of your trip to Japan started or join one of the group tours of Japan!