We’re on the island of Miyajima in the South China Sea. One of the most famous images of Japan is on Miyajima – Itsukushima Shrine.
The island is off the coast of Hiroshima and is pretty isolated after dark. Most tourists take the ferry over for the day. We decided to spend the night here to avoid the crowds. We’re staying in a ryokan – a traditional family-run inn. The ryokan is called Momiji-so and it’s in the middle of the forest. It is gorgeous – you can hear the stream outside our room and see koi swimming in a pond. There are deer everywhere and you can hear monkeys in the trees.
I think sleeping on a futon on tatami mats on the floor is overrated. It is incredibly humid here. I feel like I’m at Girl Scout camp sleeping in a sleeping bag in the middle of August. However, the toilets are amazing! They have a spray of warm water after you go and they blow you dry. The first one scared me, but they’re easy to get used to.
Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima
Momiji-so Ryokan bedroom
Toto Toilet controls