While we were in Hiroshima, we took a quick trip to a nearby island called Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima. I didn’t know this before going, but the island is known for its iconic floating shrine called Itsukushima Shrine and friendly deer. Our journey to the island was relatively uneventful as we took several trains to get to an area where we could access the island. To get to the island, we had to take a ferry; luckily for me, the ride was smooth, with minimal rocking. The weather that day was almost perfect, as the sun was out and it was neither too hot nor too cold. But the most impressionable part of the trip was the scenic views. They were stunning, to say the least, and the pictures I took do not do it justice at all. The picture below shows the iconic shrine and the island’s natural beauty. 
Once everyone departed the ferry, we took a quick break at the station to get maps and prepare for the island. I was surprised to hear over the speaker that the deer were friendly but had no qualms about eating visitors’ paper, clothing, and other items they could reach. To be honest, I thought it was an exaggeration and that we would not really run into any deer, but within the first few steps, we saw at least three. They were just casually sitting in the shade as visitors went up to take pictures and provide a few well-deserved pets for their service. It took me a moment, but I did gather up the courage to pet one because who knows when my next opportunity to pet a deer will be. Our sensei told us that the deer are well taken care of and protected because they are believed to be messengers from the gods, which was helpful to know because, in the US, they would have likely become someone’s dinner.
After walking by some cute local businesses and more deer, we made it to the shrine. Because we arrived during low tide, the shrine did not appear to be floating, but it allowed people to walk under it. Safe to say, the shrine’s vivid vermillion color was a sight to see once we got inside. No wonder it’s included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Walking through the shrine made me more appreciative of the cultural differences because despite not practicing the Shinto religion, it was a striking site that gave me more insight into Japanese culture. While at the shrine and a few classmates witnessed what I believe to be a Shinto priest practicing some rituals, and although I could not understand the language, it was very touching.
Afterward, my classmates and I were able to explore the island on our own time. I and a few others decided to walk to a park we saw on the map that indicated that many deers were there. We got a bit lost on our journey up the mountain, but we asked a shopkeeper for directions, and they kindly pointed us in the right direction. The striking green of the trees was comforting to see after spending quite some time in the concrete jungle of Tokyo. On the way up, we made a few stops at some souvenir shops along the way because who could resist cute deer merch? Once we reached the park, we were surprised to see there were no deer. We had a good chuckle about it because, of course, they would prefer to be near the tourist who are likely dropping food or just giving it to them. We made our way back down the mountain and into what I would call the shopping district. While shopping, I bought some Momiji Manju, a maple-leaf-shaped cake made of buckwheat and rice with many fillings. I got a variety set that included red bean paste, chocolate, and custard to try with my family once I returned. My day at Miyajima was amazing, and I learned so much. If you ever happen to find yourself in Japan, I highly recommend you carve out some days to visit the island.