Miyajima

The day before yeasterday we went to Miyajima, one of the "most beautiful sights in Japan". I think it's ranked third or so. We sat in a tram for forty-five minutes and the ferry ride to the island took about 15 minutes. It was totally worth it. We arrived there during low tide and got to walk around Torii, the symbolic gate before the Itsukushima Shrine

 

Sorry for my face -it was sunny and my eyes were practically bleeding by the time that random person who gracefully offered to take the picture for us actually took the picture.

The Itsukushima Shrine in the middle picture is part of UNESCO World Heritage, by the way. I just wanted to say that, it sounds so civilized and intellectual and whatever I'll just get on with it now.

After visiting the main attractions of the island we went exploring, and found this lovely (and very Finnish in a way -it had pines -the trees- and all) area with steep stairs up to a path which led to a miniature almost-shrine ->

After buying Momiji (maple-shaped small treat with different fillings inside, we bought one chocolate, one cream-filled and one red bean paste filled or whatever. Surprisingly the chocolate-filled was best) we found a place to sit and eat our first ones in peace, and found a lovely seat with a view to the ocean and the Torii. It was fine for a few minutes until the tame deer tried to eat the from our hands... I can say, they were actually very good until the just DIDN'T GET that we wanted to eat them ourselves...... (Ignore the random kid posing on the video :D)

Tuesday and Wednesday

Today and yesterday our program has been full with our hostess, Yukari-san, being such a wonderful... Well, hostess. Yesterday morning she came to our room, asking if we had any grand plans for the day. When we said no she said she could take us to the local aquarium/penguin park!

After leaving the aquarium Yukari-san drove us to the local shopping center and we went window shopping/ hanging out/ to the cd-store (I wanna buy Super Junior's newest album! -Mia)/ eating udon/ whatever you do in a mall. 

Wednesday

By noon we were out and about, going to see the Chinatown, Meganebashi ("glasses-bridge") and local shrines. We got our food from the Suupaa (=Supermarket) and elitistically ate ready-made meals.

A local shrine the name of which I do not remember

Chinatown

On top of Inasa-san

We didn't actually see anything so we had to take a picture in front of a poster inside the tower on top of

said Inasa-san.