Japan - Tour Day 8 - Miyajima Island

Today we traveled by streetcar to the train station, took the train to the ferry station, and took the ferry to Miyajima Island. This island is famous for its ‘floating’ torii gate. A torii gate is most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. This particular torii gate is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and is considered one of the top 3 most scenic sites in Japan. At high tide, it is ‘floating’ in the sea and at low tide, you can walk out to it. The island also has shops, restaurants, its own local brewery, a beautiful garden, and overly friendly deer! There is also a tram or ropeway that takes you to the mountain top for incredible views back to the mainland.