Miyajima Island

“Miyajima” is the commonly used name for Itsukushima, a small island located near the westernmost tip of Hiroshima Bay. Situated on the sea some 20 kilometers from the heart of Hiroshima City, the oblong island is around 30 kilometers in circumference. In spite of its small size, a range of 500-meter-high mountains stands on the island, and it is dotted with deep valleys, waterfalls, and other natural points of interest. It is counted as one of the three most beautiful areas in Japan, along with Kyoto’s Amanohashidate and Miyagi’s Matsushima islands. And the island’s Itsukushima Shrine, of course, needs no introduction; the embodiment of ancient Heian period style, it is one of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines and has been designated a World Heritage site.