Itsukushima Shrine and Deers in Miyajima Sunset | Japan Solo Travel 2017
Friday, June 9, 2017
After a short walk along Omotesando Shopping Street, consisting of me constantly darting in and out of shops for warmth, I finally reached the famed floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine.
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| When travelling solo, you just have to pose with some tourists to pretend you have friends LOL |
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| Waiting for tourists to get out of my photo be like... |
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| After this photo, I fell down immediately |
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, spotted only during high tides, was underwhelming for me, to be honest. Maybe my expectations killed the experience because I approached the shrine expecting to be blown away by Itsukushima Shrine's majestic appearance, as raved by many other travel bloggers I read.
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| The winter winds were strong and brutal — exactly the reason winter is my favourite season. |
Itsukushima Shrine
Address
Japan, 〒739-0588 Hiroshima Prefecture, Hatsukaichi, 宮島町1−１
Opening hours
6:30am to 6:00pm
(May change depending on the season)
Entrance fee
¥300 (SGD $3.75)
¥500 (SGD $6.25) for combined entry with Treasure Hall
Unfortunately, I made the decision to not visit Itsukushima Shrine or Treasure Hill because I was running very low on Japanese yen so I spent most of my time taking photos around Miyajima instead.
The sun started setting at around 3:30pm since it was winter. I hurriedly prepared to leave Miyajima as the Singaporean in me started panicking. I stupidly assumed it was already 6pm since that's the time sun sets in Singapore. It was best for me to leave early anyway, since my overnight bus from Hiroshima to Tokyo departs at 7:35pm.
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| Goodbye Miyajima, you've been awesome. |
If I were to travel to Miyajima again, I'd definitely opt to stay in a hotel there so I can shoot a time lapse of Japan's marvelous sunset against the torii gates of Itsukushima Shrine.
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| Miyajimaguchi Station at sunset |
The journey back from Miyajimaguchi Station to Hiroshima Station took about an hour. I was thoroughly amused (and my body, frequently confused) by how the skies were completely dark by 5pm.
When I got back to Hiroshima, I immediately proceeded to Bic Camera, one of Japan's biggest electronic stores, to get my travel adapter and cables so I could charge my devices on the overnight bus. Bic Camera is gigantic so to secure the cheapest deals, you'll have to walk around a bit to check out what are the best promotions around. Because I was in a rush, I briskly picked out the first things I saw and subsequently realised I paid more than 5x the amount. Sigh.
Dropped by the supermarket near Hiroshima JR Station to get some cheap bread that would sustain me the 13 hour journey from Hiroshima to Tokyo on the Willer Express overnight bus.
Goodbye, Hiroshima! I'll definitely be back in the future :)
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Japan Solo Travel (January 2017)
Osaka Summary | Osaka Couchsurfing Experience | Osaka Castle Park and Tsuyunoten Shrine | Shopping at Dotonbori and Glico Man
Kyoto Summary | AEON Mall Kyoto and The Cube Shopping Mall | Arashiyama Bamboo Groves and Nonomiya-jinja Shrine | Kyoto Tower Public Bathhouse ~YUU~
Hiroshima Summary and Atomic Bomb Dome | Children's Peace Monument and Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum | Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Peace Bell
Miyajima Day Trip Summary | Omotesando Shopping Street | Itsukushima Shrine, Deers and Miyajima Sunset
9 Hours Narita Capsule Hotel Review