We’ve just arrived at Momijisou Ryokan* up in the hills at Miyajima near the coast, after a brief overnight stop in Himeji. After the worst nights sleep we’ve had since we came away we caught the Shinkansen (quickly becoming my favourite way to travel around) to Hiroshima, transferring to the island by ferry. We’ll be staying here for the next couple of days, wandering around in the “nature” (as it’s referred to by the locals) and checking out the temples on Misen Mountain.

The surrounding area appears to be very scenic, with our digs smack in the middle of some fantastic maple trees and water features. There are a couple of very fancy Koi ponds, home to some incredibly meaty looking fish (not at all like the waifish specimens we get back home in Japanese “theme” gardens). There are plenty of deer wandering around here as well, but instead of shying away these ones come up to you and look at you forlornly until you give them the contents of your lunch box!

We’re about to head out and check out the O-Torii (grand) gate down by the docks, a water-bourne example of such which is apparently one of the most photographed monuments in the country… (well, it would be rude not to…)

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* Japanese guest house