While I try to stay positive and tout all the amazing things there are to do in the Kansai area, every now and again, I just get so thoroughly dissatisfied with one (admittedly minute) part that I just have to vent. This was pretty apparent in my post about Spa World in Shin-Sekai, and though the experience at USJ was, in retrospect, not as bad, there was a noticeable drop in... quality I suppose, especially compared to previous trips.

Otori

I wouldn't say that I've grown tired of Kansai. That, quite frankly, is just not possible. But as Shota and I start to discuss plans of going to live in another country, I have realized that I better get out to see more of JP while I can. It’s been something of a bittersweet conversation. It will be a relief not to be surrounded by the daily squeals of pop idols and a blessing to be able to catch good TV when it comes out instead of whenever someone decides to license it here (this goes double for movies, ESPECIALLY independent films). But I would be wholly dishonest if I said I wouldn’t miss living here.






Hiroshima & Miyajima

Atomic Bomb Dome

Now, during a trip to my high school’s sister-school in Kanagawa Pref., we had the chance to travel around Japan for a week after home-stay. As a result, we got to see cities like Nikko, Kamakura, Yokohama, Nara, Kyoto, Himeiji, Hiroshima, and Miyajima, but, as it tends to go with group tours, time is limited and we were kind of rushed about.

So I've recently taken to revisiting some of these spots for a more quiet, or you could even say intimate, look around. The experience is also much different when you can communicate competently with the locals (and you're more likely to take chances on unknown trails/foods).

Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students

For this road trip, I was traveling with my mother and her boyfriend, and since we’d all been to Kyoto last time, we decided to travel a little further out to Hiroshima and Miyajima in Chugoku. For everyone besides myself, Shota included, this was their first time in Hiroshima.
BUT we also wanted to make this into a day-trip (bad idea), so we didn’t have the time to enter the HiroshimaPeace Memorial Museum. Instead, we went to see the Atomic Bomb Dome, and then we took a walk around the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall forAtomic Bomb Victims.

We also visited the Children's Peace Memorial,where people offer 1000 cranes for a world without nuclear warfare, and the Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students.

Ferry to Miyajima

It’s been 12 years since I last visited Miyajima, and it still looks like I remember it. Well, maybe it looks a little better because I didn’t have to worry about not having enough money or losing track of my mates.

Otori and Miyajima

After wandering out to the Otori to make a wish to become billionaires (or at least to be rid of college debt) we headed up to Toyokuni Shrine, the largest structure on Miyajima, and the Five-Storied Pagoda.

The unfinished Toyokuni Shrine! Yay Toyotomi Clan from Osaka-kuni :>

I’ve always been a huge history nut, but found Japanese history a bit cumbersome (it feels like the eras never end) but I recently had a chance to get to know the Sengoku Period better and thus, my love for Itsukushima Shrine has deepened that much further (also, yay Mori Clan). Sadly, thanks to Koei-TECMO, I now have a very warped view of what the men and women of the Sengoku Period looked like (almost certain suji-mori wasn’t in back then).


Anyway, one of the best parts about the shrines and temples on Miyajima is that you can walk around them, and the entry fee is very reasonable. We didn’t have the time to wander through with Mum (we were cutting it close to ferry time), so I’ll just save that for a later trip.

Itsukushima Shrine and the Otori from the ferry.

There were also more tourists now than there were back then, but we were also visiting during the weekend. It’s probably less lively on weekdays. Also, the last ferry back to the mainland is quite early, so if you’re looking to spend a significant amount of time on the island, you’ll need to either arrive earlier in the day, or plan to stay overnight (which I am definitely planning on doing again soon!).

ACCESS

To Hiroshima

The Expressway!

From Osaka/Nara/Kyoto/Hyogo, the easiest way to get to Hiroshima is by car, via the express way, or by bullet train. All rental cars come with car navigation or a car navi you can rent, but it can be a bit of a pain to search for the destination through the navi, so I would suggest having an address on hand or the phone number of the location. Also, most car navigation systems disable navigation functions with the car is in motion or not in Park, so be careful when trying to change the destination on the fly.

Taking the bullet train to Hiroshima is very easy as Hiroshima Station is one of the stops on the Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Line. Unfortunately, unless you come from a JET budget or just don’t spend your money on anything else (or have a pass), taking the 2 hour trip on the bullet train is quite expensive (about 10,000 yen one way). Some cheaper options would be an express or night bus, which are pretty nice from what I hear. A quick Google search on prices has night buses starting at 2,800 yen, which is quite the deal, and saves daytime travel time so that you have more time for sightseeing.

To Miyajima
The ferry port for Miyajima is about 30 minutes by car from Hiroshima City. There is plenty of parking near the ferry, along with a couple hotels and some souvenir shops (but I think the better souvenirs are on Miyajima). There’s also a car ferry, if you need to take your vehicle with you, but otherwise, you can choose from 2 ferries to get you to Miyajima.
By train, it’s about another 30 minutes of travel time from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station on the JR Sanyo Line.

I have a ton more photos, but I will be posting those to the We <3 Kansai tumblr only as it seems my Google drive is almost at it's max (oops). I'll have another day-trip to the Sea of Japan coming up soon-ish, so drop by again sometime! :>

★Peaces★

Ise Grand Shrine - Mie Pref. 

This is definitely for people sick of the skyscrapers and the smells of the city. In Ise, you'll get such a welcome dose of nature (for those who live in big cities). It's also a coastal city, so if you're a mountainside resident, it could still be a nice change of pace.

Ise Grand Shrine is easily one of those most popular shrines in the Kansai/Chubu area, and is very popular throughout Japan as a shrine with a power spot. This means that there are crowds. If you're going by car, and you're not getting there when the shrine first opens, you can wait for a parking space to open near the shrine (when we visited, it was about a 1 hour waiting period), or park a little ways away from the shrine, and walk back.

We chose the second option, and parked out car in a private lot (read: someone's yard) for 1,000 yen for a day. That's not a bad deal as there are also a lot of sourvenir shops and restaurants to peruse through on your way to and from the temple. You can also take a break down by the river nearby to cool off.

おはらい町 O-harai Machi 

Old-timey Post Office. You have to read it from right to left :U

Going from the private parking area to the Inner Shrine (内宮 naiku), there is O-harai Machi, where you may purchase your snacks and baubles. If you're looking for shrine charms, I would save those purchases for the shrine, but if you're just looking for cute items like phone straps and postcards, you will most likely find them here. 

One day, I will learn how to take a photo properly.

<--- This bridge branches off from O-harai Machi and will take you to some quieter areas if you're looking for a break. The streets of O-harai Machi are really crowded, and with the summer heat coming, visiting the shrine might seem like more trouble than it's worth (or is that just me? I really don't do well in crowds...).

O-harai Machi isn't a really long street, probably a 15 minute or so walk with minimal crowds, but on a Saturday, it could easily turn into a 25 to 30 minute walk. Pace yourself and keep an eye out for people that actually live in O-harai Machi driving up and down roads (you know, where everyone is walking..).









As a hot spot for Japanese and Non-Japanese tourists alike, my theory is that you should be okay with finding a clerk who speaks a little English. Most of the street signs are written with Japanese and Roman letters, plus the guide maps given out also come in English and Japanese.

Ise Grand Shrine - Inner Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine is, in fact, not one huge shrine, but a shrine complex, meaning it features many small shrines within it's grounds.

The bridge to Kazehinomi-no-miya.

The sacred house for kami at Kazehinomi-no-miya.

Each individual shrine usually has it's own tori, which you're supposed to bow at as you enter and leave. A couple of the large shrines also have areas for temizusha for washing the hands and mouth. After purifying, you can then go up to the shrine, toss in an offering and say a little prayer. This particular tori leads to Kazehinomi-no-miya, which is one of the power spots within the complex. People from all over Japan come here to pray for success in their endeavors. (I also heard that this shrine is where kamikaze came from, but I need to look into that more)


Within the Inner Shrine, there are a couple more powers spots, Miya-no-meguri no kami, which is a stone guarded by a rope, and a large tree you can see on your way to Kotaijingu, the main sanctuary of Ise. I didn't take any photos (too busy getting my own power spottin' on), but they can found easily by the circle of people absorbing the good vibes.


Expect lines at every shrine you visit. Especially on a Saturday. Or during the summer. Or when the weather is nice. Or with the autumn foilage. Pretty much, any time of the year that's not absolutely frigid or not suffocateingly humid.
 
And that about wraps it up for the Inner Shrine. It is a complex of shrines. For praying. Or just wandering around. Either way, a good way to saunter through the afternoon. Definitely a place to visit if you'll be in the Kansai area for a while, but not really essential for short trips.

If we had arrived earlier in the day, we probably would have had time to go to the Outer Shrine as well, but that's why we can always make the trip again. And I really want to go to Ise-Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Village, theme park based on the Sengoku Era of Japanese history. The history buff in me told Shota about it as soon as I found it, and is now anticipating that trip. This year. Preferably in September.





Information
Since we drove to Ise Grand Shrine, I don't have the usual in-depth train details, but I can share what I found through a little online research.

Ise Grand Shrine is located on the Kintetsu Railway line via the Osaka, Yamada and Toba Lines. The fastest route is by the Special Express train from Osaka Uehonmachi Station to Isuzugawa Station, though you will have to change to a Local train at Ujiyamada Station, which takes 1 hour and 55 minutes, costs 3,130 yen (a little over 30 USD). The second route takes you from Osaka Uehonmachi to Ujiyamada on the Rapid Express, then to Isuzugawa on the Local and it takes 2 hours and 30 minutes. But that route costs 1,810 yen (a little under 20 bucks). I suppose it depends on how much time and money you have. ;)

However, after you get to Isuzugawa, you will need to take a bus to get to the Inner Shrine, but that, quite honestly, should be very easy to do (Japanese buses are much easier to use than D.C. buses!!) since most of the bus signs should be written in English as well.

There are also quite a few English language websites available for researching access to Ise and things to do in that area.

Ise-Toba-Shima - This website is from the Kintetsu Corporation, which is the company that runs to the trains to Ise. The sights lists information about Ise Grand Shrine, as well as a few other attractions in the area like Spain-Mura (Spain Village), Toba Aquarium, and Ise-Azuchi Momoyama Bunka Village. Unfortunately, it's not spectacularly easy to navigate, though you will enjoy their guides if you like flow charts.

Mie Tourism Guide - A website about all the lovely things in Mie Prefecture, which is where Ise is located. There is information about the Grand Shrine, Iga-Ueno, which is where ninja began, pearls, a famous export of Mie, and Matsusaka beef, another popular export of Mie.

Ise Jingu - This is the official website for the shrine. This link is in link, but it also looks like it hasn't been updated recently. But it does have some fantastic and detailed descriptions of the various shrines within Ise Grand Shrine.

I think I accidentally pushed published before I finished writing, so... sorry about that. But now the post is complete! More photos will be on the We Love Kansai tumblr, so check that out if you're looking for more!

Until next time.
 ★Peaces★