Iwakuni and Miyajima

From Osaka we headed south to Iwakuni the site of a marine corps base here in Japan.  The lodging was cheap and it provided a good home base for exploring the surrounding area of Hiroshima and Miyajima.  We stopped in Hiroshima for dinner in its Hondori district for Indian, and then went the extra 45 minutes to Iwakuni.

Very similar to a typical district in Tokyo.  This is in Hiroshima

The kids loved seeing this at the Marine Corp base

Our first day in Iwakuni we decided to take the short ferry ride over to Miyajima a very famous island here known for its oysters and floating torii gate.

On our way

One of the most startling things upon disembarking the ferry was the deer that were completely tame and wandering free, lounging about wherever.  Stanley and Audrey, my two animal enthusiasts especially loved this.

Kristi, this would have been the spot to wear the shirts from Nova Scotia!

lunch options

But I opted for oysters and made quick work of them.  They were AMAZING!

The beauty of this island could not be captured adequately.  The buildings, shrines, veiws.....

shrine porch

cherry blossoms were past their peak, but many places had much to admire

a friendly deer interrupting a hanami or picnic

There was a wedding taking place in the floating shrine

After the ceremony

Beautiful pagoda

If for nothing else I would love to go back for the oysters...