Day 8 Tokyo with Grammy and GrandDad

We spent most of the day traveling from Hiroshima to Tokyo. We simply explored the area around our hotel, found a park and then got dinner.

Cherry blossoms were everywhere, just beautiful!!

The girls enjoyed playing at the city park. They had a lot of pent up energy from sitting on the train most of the day.

We ate Korean BBQ for dinner. Grammy and GrandDad are pros at using chopsticks now!

Day 7 visit to Miyajima with Grammy and GrandDad

Good Morning Hiroshima!!



Day 7 of Grammy and GrandDad's visit was off to a good start. We woke up to a beautiful sunrise. Our hotel room had the best view!

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast at the Grand Prince Hiroshima hotel.

Our hotel was located right on the pier. We simply walked out and stepped onto the boat. It was about at 25 minute boat ride to the small island of Miyajima.

A view of the Grand Prince Hotel from the boat.

Arriving at Miyajima was a bit breezy. As we walked a little inland the weather was quite pleasant for exploring the beautiful island.

Miyajima (literally 'shrine island') has been celebrated as a sacred island and one of Japan's three most scenic views. It is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, which, together with its large wooden tori (gate), stands in the ocean during high tide.

Throughout the island tame deer freely roam.
The girls loved the deer, but we had to be careful of our snacks and bags.

The Istukushima shrine dates back to the 6th century, it's present form dates from 1168. It's pier like construction is a result of the island's holy status; commoners were not allowed to set foot on the island and had to approach the shrine by boat, entering through the floating tori gate in the bay. The current tori dating from 1875.

After walking for awhile we stopped for a potty and hot chocolate break. We just happened to drop into this quaint and off the beaten path cafe. The owners were so kind and eager to try to speak with us, they informed us the the building was nearly 200 years old. It was all so lovey, from the beautiful courtyard garden to even the pretty restroom.

The cafe restroom was so pretty that I had to take a photo.

The cafe also had the most amazing collecting of hinamatsuri dolls.

After climbing all these steps we come to a lovely clearing with a small shrine and beautiful view down onto Miyajima and the large tori gate.

The largest wooden rice paddle.

chanting monk

Hinamatsuri doll board. Hinamatsuri dolls are displayed for girl's day celebrated on March 3 every year.

Relaxing on the boat ride back to Hiroshima after a fun filled day of sightseeing in Miyajima. There's nothing like a good coke and snickers.

After the boat dropped us off at the pier, we walked down to the beach side in front of our hotel.

Silly Girls!!