Japan Travel: Exploring Japan’s Beauty and Spiritualism at Mount Misen, Miyajima, Hiroshima 18
Visitors to the beautiful island of Miyajima, located in the city of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, are often entranced by the mystical Mount Misen located on the island.
Kobo Daishi, the founder of the Shingon sect and a prominent religious figure, brought Buddhism to the mountain in 806, the first year of the Daido era. In addition to the Buddhist structure, the mountain is home to a variety of unusual plants, a platform for beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea and a fun mountain course for trekkers.
Visitors to the island have the option of ascending Mount Misen on foot or via ropeway. Visitors have a choice of three hiking trails: the Momijidani Course, the Daisho-in Course and the Omoto Course.
**The Momijidani Course: With a length 2.5 km, it takes 1.5-2 hours to arrive at the summit. The route is quite steep at times. Hikers will see rare plant life, like the primitive Angiosperm here.
****The Omoto Course: With a length of 3.2 km, it takes about 2 hours to the summit. Hikers will find 100 year old large fir trees along the trail leading into the Komaga Forest.
**The Daisho-in Course: The estimated hike time for the 3 km trial is 1.5-2 hours. Though there are many stone steps, the scenery is breathtaking.
Visitors also have the option to utilize the Miyajima Ropeway. The Ropeway will take visitors from the foothills of the mountain to Shishiiwa Observatory. From Shishiiwa Observatory, visitors can view the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
From Shishiiwa Observatory, visitors wishing to advance to the summit will need to advance on foot. The summit is 100 meters from the upper ropeway station along a rather steep rock road. The estimated hiking time from Shishiiwa Observatory to the summit is 30 minutes.
Along the route to the summit, hikers will come across a plateau with religious structures. The Misenhondo (the Main Hall) is the holy hall Kobo Daishi built for 100 day Buddhism training sessions. In the Kiezu-no-Reikado Hall is the holy fire Kobo Daishi used for his religious training. This flame has been burning for over 1200 years. Visitors to the Kiezu-no-Reikado Hall can help themselves to a cup of the hot tea brewed over the flame.
It is believed water boiled this flame will heal various ailments. The fire from the Kiezu-no-Reikado Hall was used to light the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.
AloJapan.com