Hiroshima & Miyajima holidays

Just off the coast and less than an hour away from the city, Miyajima Island is a charming escape from the mainland. The island is best known for its beautiful, lush scenery and the bright red torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, which seems to float in the sea. In the evening this gate and the shrine behind it (as well as other traditional buildings in the area) are floodlit and the atmosphere is just magical. As well as visiting the shrine you should also take advantage of the numerous hiking trails through verdant hills populated with deer and walk (or take the cable car) up to the summit of Mount Misen, where there are various temples to explore and breathtaking views of the Inland Sea. While on Miyajima, make sure to sample the local delicacies too – huge juicy oysters fresh from the grill and anago-meshi (eel and rice) are two of our favourites.

Naoshima, another of the islands in the Inland Sea is also well worth a visit if you have time to spare. This smaller and less well-known island is a real hidden gem which has become known as the 'art island' thanks to the selection of art installations that have been commissioned here since the 1980s. Once on the island, hire bikes and spend a day cycling around to visit the likes of the Chichu Art Museum, Yayoi Kusama's 'Pumpkins', James Turrell's 'Minamidera' and the Benesse House complex.