This Magical Japanese Island Stole Our Hearts | Miyajima, Japan 🇯🇵
Today we’re catching a ferry to Miaima Island. We’ll visit the centuries old Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its iconic Tory Gate rising out of the sea. We’ll also spend time exploring the charming streets, browsing local shops, and tasting one of the island’s specialties. Come along as we experience the culture, nature, and flavors of this beautiful place. Oh, and watch out for the deer. Apparently there’s deer here. It’s like you got some snacks, you got noms. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. I think that this is probably the most peaceful place that we’ve outside of the Maji shrine grounds. Although something that’s not peaceful is the deer because the deer will attack you. And Aubrey had a map in the side of her backpack and the deer snatched it and was trying to eat it and it was successful. It ripped off a piece and ate it. I guess it needed directions or something. There’s a lot of souvenir shops over here, so it’s a good place to get souvenirs. There is also a brewery here and um this place is known for oysters. So, we should chuck an oyster and shaved ice. Yes, there’s the Tory gate. Seeing the Tory gate in person, I didn’t expect how thick the like legs of it were. They’re like legit tree trunks, like not perfectly cylindrical. It’s like they just pulled a tree up, sanded it down a little bit and put it in the water. Yeah. And apparently it just stands because of its own weight. Like it’s not deep into the sand or anything. And at low tide you can actually walk through the gate. But we’re here at high tide. Yes. At the moment. This is a another Epcot location. Oh, it is. Yeah. Because they have the Tory gate at Epcot at the Japan Pavilion. It’s just so quaint here. And it was it was super hot when we got here, but now the sun’s gone down a little bit. It’s 5:00. There’s a sea breeze. It’s just super peaceful. So unfortunately right now the fivetory pagota pri is under construction but there’s still other things to see here other traditional buildings beautiful plant life and I do think coming here at this time we arrived like between 3:00 and 4:00 is a good time to get here for the crowds and the heat. However, a lot of the shops and food places are closing or closed. So, if that is a goal, I might recommend coming here early in the morning. Not sure what time everything opens, but you know, there’s always a trade-off. Less crowds means the businesses aren’t open, but you have a more peaceful atmosphere. Speaking of things being closed, we wanted to go to the Miaima Brewery, but they’re closed. We found the fluffiest kitty cats I’ve ever seen. Okay, so we mentioned that this is a place to get oysters. So, we have ordered some grilled oysters, one for each of us, and we get to sit on these tiny little stools. It’s like barely as big as my hand. How are you enjoying your day, Brian? Now that it’s getting cooler, it’s a lot better. I know. We’re so floored. We woke up at 4 something. Four. No, five. Five. I don’t remember. Did a train a Shink Consen trainer. We got a My shell is hot. I don’t know. I don’t know what your shell is doing. Oh, it’s hot. Compai. Compai. We put a little lemon and other things on this. I don’t think I’ve ever had an oyster this good. Wow. There’s a ponu and a lemon. Mhm. That’s good. Wow. Get our Northstar when you’re here. Do it. And just like that, we’re heading back to the ferry. So, thank you for joining us for this peaceful afternoon in Miaima. But I would definitely recommend coming here and spending an afternoon or morning, like a half day. The ferry is really quick and come here earlier. Most of the shops later in the afternoon are closed. We will see you in the next one on our Japan adventures. Bye. What do you mean?
We took a day trip to one of Japan’s most magical destinations — Miyajima Island, just off the coast of Hiroshima! Known for its friendly deer, fresh oysters, and the world-famous floating torii gate, this island perfectly blends nature, culture, and incredible food.
Our adventure starts with a ferry ride to Miyajima, where we’re greeted by the island’s curious deer roaming freely through the streets. We explore the stunning Itsukushima Shrine, home to the iconic torii gate that appears to float on the water during high tide — one of Japan’s most breathtaking sights.
Of course, no trip to Miyajima is complete without food! We dive into the island’s specialty — grilled oysters, and wander through charming shops and seaside views that feel straight out of a painting.
🌊 Highlights Include:
Meeting Miyajima’s friendly wild deer 🦌
Visiting the Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii gate ⛩️
Trying grilled oysters
Exploring scenic streets and viewpoints across the island 🌸
Learning why Miyajima is considered one of Japan’s most beautiful spots
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, this island is an absolute must-see — peaceful, picturesque, and full of unforgettable experiences.
AloJapan.com