Day 3 – Gateway to Peace
I have to start with an apology, because I realized that I have totally forgotten the names of all of our Local Guides. ☹ I do not know why; I usually manage to remember most of them. So, I will be referring to our “Local Guides” with no names. Sorry! [I actually started writing this ages ago, but just today read
@CaliforniaGirl09's summary, and had to agree that most of the local guides were good, but not great. China certainly had AMAZING local guides; Japan did not. As obviated by the fact that I forgot all their names...]
This day was not a really early day, but it was a day where James & Tomomi stressed we *HAD* to leave on time. We had tickets for a very specific Shinkansen train departure, and if we missed that – well, we might be spending the day in Kyoto!
I am SO glad that nothing and no-one delayed us, because this was such a spectacular day (once again!) As much as I loved Day 2 and the Bamboo Forest, I think this day in Hiroshima/Miyajima was the day that stayed with me the most, and was my favorite. (The day in Shirakawa-go is close up there, too). It was just an amazing mix of enjoyment and impactfulness. (I doubt that’s a real word, but it fits for me!)
After another buffet breakfast at the hotel, we headed out to our motorcoach for the relatively short drive to Kyoto train station.
On the way, we got instructions on the fact that we only had 90 seconds for the people to leave the train, and for us to get on the train once it pulled into the station, so that we had to be organized and pay attention. (Spoiler, we all did fine!) The Shinkansen are notorious for their punctuality.
We got there a bit early (WAY better than late!) and had time to watch the trains come and go, and get some photos and videos of the “bullet” Shinkansen trains.
When it was time to board, half of us were stationed with James at one door, with the other half at the other door with Tomomi. The doors opened, a few folks got off, then we rushed on. That 90 seconds actually seemed like a lot more time than I’d thought it would, but that was probably because we were there, and prepared!
Anyways, we made our way to our pre-assigned seats (they had sent our seat assignments to us on our phones the night before – Airdrop for iPhones, and Send Anywhere for Android). Then we settled in for the trip to Hiroshima. The Guides, of course, had brought snacks and water with them. It was a pretty smooth, seamless ride. WHY OH WHY do we not have these trains here????
When we made it to Hiroshima, we met up with our Local Guide, and got on our motorcoach for the drive across Hiroshima to the ferry to Miyajima Island. As we drove, we got some cultural and historic instruction from our Local Guide.
We eventually got to the dock where we boarded our ferry to Miyajima. James & Tomomi told us that we were free to stand or sit anywhere on the ferry, but to meet at the front of the ferry when it docked in Miyajima. They also told us that we’d get views of the famed Torii Gate as we were crossing (but not to worry, that we’d get views of it on the way back, also.)
I found a spot outside along the railing near the front, and reveled in the fresh breeze, and kept a lookout for the Torii Gate.
There it is!
After the crossing, we exited the ferry, and then stopped off to the side so that our Local Guide could give us some history, and tell us about some of the myths of the area (such as the profile seen in this mountainside. I can’t remember the story behind it, though). Can you see her profile?
After that, we walked over to a plaza, and were shown where our meeting place would be after we finished up on Miyajima. We were also warned about the deer that roamed the streets. They were fairly domesticated, but were known to steal food right out of your hand, and nibble whatever they could reach, so you needed to be careful.
We then started a pleasant walk along the streets of Miyajima, heading eventually over to the beach promontory where the first really good view of the Torii Gate was.
This looked like a cool excursion. They paddled these folks out to and around the Torii Gate. We were told this was the same sort of boat we’d be riding in later on, but we wouldn’t get the hats. Darn! They looked cool!
The Torii Gate was built as the entryway to the Itsukushima Shrine, which is itself a lovely place built out over the water. The boats would sail in through the Torii Gate and up to the Shrine. When the tide is in, the Torii Gate appears to float on the water. When the tide is out, it goes *way* out, and you can actually just walk out to the gate.
Our local guide.
We got to the promontory on the beach, and waited a bit for a group ahead of us to get their photos, and then had a quick orgy of family photo taking and our first group photos taken with the Torii Gate behind us.
The money shot. The Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate of Miyajima Island.
Continued in next post.