Travel ITINERARY for 10 Days in Japan: Part 3

Day 7: Thursday 9 am X/X/2017
Head out on an early Shinkansen to Hiroshima. You will have to transfer trains at Shin-Osaka Station. Hopefully you will arrive around noon and store your luggage in one of the storage lockers. Start your afternoon with a journey to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. A bus ride should get you very close. Definitely visit the Atomic Bomb Dome before or after visiting the museum. There are a few other sites around the Peace Memorial Park if you have time to explore. Try to see either the Hiroshima Castle or the Hiroshima Botanical Garden as well. Depending on your arrival time to Hiroshima, you could potentially do all three in a day.  When you have finished sightseeing, make your way back to the luggage store and then onward to your lodging destination. Depending on the time of the year, you may want to get tickets for a local professional baseball game in the afternoon or evening. Check the Toyo Carp website for game dates and times. You can buy tickets at Lawson, Seven-Eleven, or Family Marts across Japan. Ask an employee to assist you. 
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The Atomic Bomb Dome

A memorial dedicated to children in the Peace Park

​Day 8: Friday 8 am X/X/2017
Today you will head to Miyajima Island for the day. It is famous for wild deer, a popular shrine, and one of the most beautiful views in Japan. There is a ton to see and do for a day trip. You will take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station and then walk to the port and catch a ferry. If you have an active JR Pass, the JR ferry is free of charge each way. Be mindful the times that the ferry runs later in the day and evening. When you reach the island, heading east along the strip of hotels, restaurants, and shops will take you to Itsukushima Shrine. Visiting the shrine at high tide is ideal to see the floating torii gate. The Daisho-in Temple is worth a stop while exploring the area. There is a public aquarium nearby as well. If you enjoy hiking or nature, Mt. Misen on Miyajima Island offers a couple options. You can go on one of the many walking trails along the base of the mountain. A popular attraction is to take the gondola ride up the mountain and hike the remaining way to the summit. Be aware that the stone steps are narrow and steep. There is a rest area along with a few temples and shrines on the mountain. Plan for at least three to four hours to visit the summit and back down to the main village area. If you enjoy seafood, be sure to try some of the large local oysters and other food offerings. Catch the ferry back to Hiroshima and watch the sunset over the water. Enjoy your final night in Hiroshima as you will make a return trip to Tokyo in the morning.
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View from the summit of Mt. Misen

The floating torii gate