Another Island and Family Tea

Another train, another ferry to another island. Can you tell I am getting tired? Feeling less than excited about this last day of activities? We all were laughing about how we are "shrined"out!

I did notice something at the station this time---double decker bicycle parking. The Japanese are great bikers with some moms carrying kids in the front and the back. However, sharing the sidewalk with bikes can be dicey.

The 45 minute train ride gets us to a different ferry going to Miyajima Island. There is a crush of people and we are a bit overwhelmed by how many want to visit the Itsukushima Shrine.  The complex is quite large and we spend a lot of time exploring the various buildings, climbing to the two pagodas, watching a purifying ceremony at the Shinto shrine and photographing a Japanese bride who is beautifully attired in a traditional kimono. We are on our own for lunch and I manage to order noodles in a tasty broth which hits the spot. Plenty of shopping opportunities but I am tired of the same souvenirs. Enjoy some leisure time people watching and wandering with my camera. It is not my favorite place and I am happy to board the ferry. That is when we finally see why the place is so famous---the torii gate that was under 15 feet of water is now revealed and is being swarmed by people who want to walk under. It is a bit amazing to see the tide go out so far that you can see the massive structure entirely.

Back to the hotel to meet up with Brett and Nora! Can you believe we are both in Japan at the same time, in the same city and manage to have tea together? I think it is awesome that the Davis Family does this more often than you would think but we have the travel bug and it makes for some fun memories. We share stories and I give them the restaurant name so they can go have Hiroshima pancakes while I share a final, delicious dinner with my traveling companions. Tomorrow we head out to Osaka to return to the USA and sleep in our own comfy beds!