Day 4: Miyajima Temple Visit, Part 2, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

I had to stop and get as close to the o-Torii Shrine as possible.

Panoramic view, 180 degrees

Our visit continues with a short hike up a residential street. It's been drizzling since we arrived but now it's starting to rain harder.

Buddhist Temple Entrance, it was protected and saved from destruction during a time when it was common to.

As you walk up the stairs you should roll the charms representing touching the 8 sutras.

Bimzurusonzya, touch this "diety" where you need healing then touch yourself in that same spot. People have left their buddhist prayer beads on his hands, and baby bibs around his neck.

I purchased Buddhist prayer beads in the temple and I knelt and asked the Buddha to give us safe passage and a long and healthy life for our family.

Underground completely blacked our meditation tunnel under the temple. Due to the darkness, these images seem to fly out at you. There were 3 sections, with  8-12 images in each.

Having free healthy tea (a

Combination is many herbs - posted behind husband on the wall)

We have this phone in our

Kitchen. This one HAD a dial tone!

The Buddhist Diety Room.

We were soaked!!!

Next post ha our souvenirs shoppig stop. There's some great price deals in Miyajima Japan. If you see something reasonable - grab it!!

Happy travels!

Day 4: Temple Visit at Miyajima, Part 1, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

I cannot say enough about how valuable and amazing this visit to the island was. We visited the Shinto Itsukushima Shrine, O-Torii and the Buddhist Daisho-In Temple.

In college I studied Buddhism, and the 8 sutra of right way, right mind, right action...so I felt it was a full circle experience to come here. Before we came to Japan, about 4 weeks prior, I had a vivid dream about the O-Tori, however I had never seen it or  remembered it from anywhere. Where the clear image came from I really don't know.

I won't explain these photos in excess. Just know that Shinto is a religion full of ritual rites and practices, where as Buddhism is a way of being, a way of life. Even tho Buddha is praised as a god, he should be simply recognized as a symbol of attaining nirvana.

Arrival on the Island and Shopping Artifacts

From Hiroshima it's a 20 minute train ride to the ferry. The ferry takes 10 minutes to get to the island.

There are approximately 500 deer on the island. That's Katy with the first deer we saw right off the boat.

William is pointing to a landslide from the rainy season.

In Shinto and Buddhism you clean you hands and rinse your mouth before entering the shrines (and remove your hat). 

This is a Buddhist couple praying. When they stood he had a Buddha charm around his neck.

Buying a good luck or bad luck wish

SAKE!!! Hiroshima is well know for their Sake. These are empty barrels of sake. It's said sake should be sweet and its helps cleanse the spirit and the body. I know I always feel better after I have some.

I'm leaving my "wishes" for the gods, so they come true.

Part 2 will have the Buddhist Temples that were "saved" from destruction and original to the area.

Happy Travels.