Miyajima traditional industrial arts “Miyajima hariko, the Paper Animals”

Shall we look some lovely “Miyajima harikos”?

You might notice a colorful corner at souvenir shops.You can see not only lovely but also thoughtful faces of animals there.I went to the studio of the artist Tanaka Shiro who makes those animals, and took some photos. I’ll show them to you.

We have thought that owls are lucky birds.Paper owls are looking us with their own eyesThey aren’t speaking but telling a lot.

There are many different birds painted vividly. They balance with their heads and trains. So that they can always stand. That the reason people present that bird to their families and friends as a lucky charm.

This is a mask of deer. He has unique atmosphere. There are many deer in this island. That makes a good souvenir.

These are the twelve zodiac signs, in 2019 , it is “inoshishi” wild boars. Mr.Tanaka was very busy making 2020 sign, mice.

Left photo is the beckoning figure of a cat, and right one is a dog. The cat was made when Mr. Tanaka was young, but the dog was made just a few years ago.
So the cat looks nervous. The dog looks humorous. But both are charming.

The Particular Way of “Miyajima hariko”

“Miyajima hariko” is made in the partucular way. The artist of paper animals makes their works by pasting papers outside of mold. But Mr. Tanaka pastes papers inside of a mold.
This different technique made the unique taste.

Another perticular things about “Miyazima hariko” is the colorful painting. These simple and clear colors are fresh forever.

“Miyajima harikos” have been carried to not only all over Japan but also all over the world. They are loved and bring lots of happiness!

Reccomended day trip tour from Osaka to Miyajima and Ranking!

Miyajima is day trip distance from Osaka. Let’s go and see floating Torii gate and the World Cultural Heritage site Shrine.

Osaka to Hiroshima

Shin-Osaka station to Hiroshima starion

Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi starion

Miuytajimaguchi to Miyajima

1. Greate Torii gate

Very famous floating Torii gate. In high tide, you can see the most beautiful scenery and in low tide you can walk to Torii and see it close.

2. Itukushima Shrine

The shrine is designated as the World Heritage Sight.

3. Japanese Cultural Experience

Miyajima has popular Japanese Culture experience facility. In one stop, you can wear kimono and experience tea ceremony, calligraphy and cooking. They will take pictures while you take the lessons.

4. Food

Miyajima’s speciality is Anago-Meshi(conger eel bowl) and Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

Anago-meshi

Miyajima is famous for Anago-Meshi (conger eel on rice)

Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima is famous for Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

5. Sweets

Let’s buy some souvenirs and eat special sweet of Momiji-manjyu _(maple leaf shape pancake)

How to hike up to Mt. Misen!

There are 2 ways to hike Mt.Misen. One way is to use rope way, and the other way is on your foot. The observatory at the peak opens from 10AM to 4PM, so make sure you are on that time.

The peak of Mt. Misen

There is the observatory at the peak so that you can see the whole view of Setouchi inland sea.

Detail of each course

Rope way

The fee for round trip is 1800yen. You can move from the Momijidani-station to Shishiiwa station at once. Shishiiwa station has it own observatory and they have a little cafe at 2F, so if you don’t feel like hiking up to the peak, you can stop here. From Shishiiwa station to the peak, you have to hike for 30 minutes.







Miyajima Rope Way

Momiji-dani course

The most basic course of 3. Takes about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. If you are beginner, you should start with this course.

Omoto course

Hardest course of all. Walk in primeval forest. Takes about 2 hours to 2.5 hours. If you are confident with your physical fitness, why don’t you try?

Daisyou-in course

This course have a lot of steps. Takes about 1.5 hours to 2 hours.

Went to Itukushima Shrine

Hours:  30-60 minutes
Fee:300yen
Open Hours: 6:30AM to 6PM
Access: 25 min. walk from the Miyajima ferry port
Website: (English)


Entrance of Itukushima Shrine


Here, you pay the entrance fee and get the ticket. There is a board that tell you about tidal info.


This is a ticket


Let’s purify your hands


The width of the corridor is 4m and total length is 262m long


The first god that you see in the shrine is here Maroudo-jinja


Itukushima Shirine has different shrine in it that makes it like apartment of gods

Great Trii looks very different when it low tide or high tide


Get the amulet, fortune or souvenirs here


Here, beautiful Gosyuin (the mark of the shrine) can be written.


Itukushima Shrine is one way. Exit is right over there

Went to Daishoin Temple

Daisyou-in Temple
Time required: 30~60 minutes
Access; 10 min. walk from the exit of Itukushima Shrine
Fee; None
Open Hours:8:00PM~5:ooPM


The entrance of Daisyo-in Temple. Have to climb up the stairs


The statue of Buddha in the middle of the stairs


Made it!


They have Reika-dou (unceased fire) in the peak of Mt. Misen that monks climbed up everyday.


At Daisyou-in, they have many kinds of amulets, fortunes and some snacks that you can buy


Mani-guruma is the cylinder that are in the middle of the handle, more you turns, more you gain virtue.  Daisyou-in has bond with Tibetan Buddhism


This building has osunafummi, means if you go through the building you are considered that you went all the temples


Inside is like this

 

Reccomended day trip tour from Osaka to Miyajima

Miyajima is day trip distance from Osaka. Let’s go and see floating Torii gate and the World Cultural Heritage site Shrine.

Model Course

07:59 – 09:20
Shin-Osaka station to Hiroshima starion

09:28 – 09:56
Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi starion

10:10 – 10:25
Miuytajimaguchi to Miyajima

10:30 Get to Miyajima island

Miyajima is small island in _Setouchi inland sea where only say to get there is Ferry. It is popular tourists destination. There are many wild deer wondering around the island and they have a lot to offer to the tourists.



11:00 The great Torii

Very famous floating Torii gate. In high tide, you can see the most beautiful scenery and in low tide you can walk to Torii and see it close.

11:30 Itukushima Shrine

The shrine is designated as the World Heritage Sight.

12:00 Lunch

Miyajima’s speciality is Anago-Meshi(conger eel bowl) and Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

Anago-meshi

Miyajima is famous for Anago-Meshi (conger eel on rice)

Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima is famous for Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki

13:00 Japanese Cultural Experience

Miyajima has popular Japanese Culture experience facility. In one stop, you can wear kimono and experience tea ceremony, calligraphy and cooking. They will take pictures while you take the lessons.

15:00 stroll around the island

Let’s buy some souvenirs and eat special sweet of Momiji-manjyu _(maple leaf shape pancake)

18:00 go bakd to Osaka

Take off from ferry port and return to Osaka

18:10 – 18:20
[Ferry] (Miyajima-Miyajimaguchi)

18:30 – 19:04
[JR] (Miyajimaguchi -Hiroshima)

19:17 - 20:38
[Shinkansen] (Hiroshima-Shin-Osaka)

Momiji-Manjyu (maple shaped sweet)

Miyajima is famous for the sweet called Momiji- Manjyu.  The pancake like cake filled with Anko (sweet bean paste) is the basic. but there are various flavors. There are a lot of shops that sells momiji- manjyu, so why don’t you try many kind of fillings from some deifferent shops.

koshian (sweet bean paste without bean skin)

Tubuan (sweet bean paste with whole beans)

Chokolate

Maccha (green tea)

Custard cream

How to take Miyajima Ferry

5 minutes walk from JR Miyajimaguchi station. Take the ferry for 10〜15 minutes
one way ticket : 180 yen

Ferry terminal is just 5 minutes walk from JR Miyajimaguchi station.

When you go out from the station, go down the stairs from the entrance of underground passage. (You can use the elevator as well)

Go through the underground passage.

When you go up to the street, you can see the ferry terminal.

There are two different ferry services. On your right , there is the “JR Miyajima Ferry” terminal. On your left, there is the ferry terminal of “Matsudaikisen”. Same fares, same destination, so you can take whichever you want.

If you have Japan Rail Pass, you’d better to take JR ferry because the fare is included. I recommend JR ferry for the tourist because you can see Big Torii Gate closer.

The ferry service runs every 15 minutes during a daytime but less at nighttime, so please check the website if you get to Miyajima at night.

JR Miyajima Ferry - timetable

Matsudaikisen – timetable・fares

JR Miyajima Ferry – Timetable

Matsudaikisen – Fares & Timetable

This is the ferry terminal of JR Miyajima Ferry.

This is the ferry terminal of Matsudaikisen.

You can buy the ticket at the ticket office or you can use the ticket machine as well. You give the ticket to the officer when you get on the ferry at Matsudaikisen. You give the ticket to the officer when you get off the ferry at JR Miyajima Ferry.

Go through the sidewalk, then you can get to the ferry port.

All seats are non-reserved. You can see Big Torri Gate from the right side of the ferry.

JR Miyajima Ferry takes route that you can see Big Torii Gate closer.

You can take great photos from the ferry.

After getting off the ferry, go to the terminal.

You give the ticket ( or show your Japan Rail Pass) to the officer at the exit.

Parking around Miyajima

[2018年6月 時点の情報です。]

宮島には橋がつながっていないので船で渡る必要があります。

カーフェリーで車を乗せて島に渡ることもできますが、
島内にはほとんど一般向けの駐車場はなく、フェリーターミナルに駐車することになるため
観光で行くのに車で島に渡る意味はありません。

車で宮島に行かれる方は、
宮島にフェリーで渡る手前の「宮島口(みやじまぐち)」というエリアの駐車場に停めてから
フェリーに乗ることが一般的です。

宮島口周辺の主な駐車場マップです。

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