Hiroshima Day Two: Miyajima Island

This morning we were up early and at the dock for a boat to Miyajima Island. After crossing the bay, we made a beeline for the mountain that towers over the island, determined to summit it. Fortunately, the climb was assisted by what was essentially a ski lift — proving once again there’s no shame in mechanical help when conquering nature.

At the top, we soaked in the views, posed for a family photo, and headed back down into town. Our next stop was Miyajima Beer, where Holden had water while Jen and I sampled the local brews. I tried two: the Misen Dragon IPA, a New England–style IPA, and The Deer Beer, a lager named after the semi-tame deer that wander the island. Both, I thought, were surprisingly good.

Soon it was time to catch the boat back to Hiroshima. We made our way to the hotel for a quick dinner, and now I’m writing this as we wait for the clock to strike six — the magical moment when “family swim time” ends and the spa becomes an adults-only oasis once more.

Tomorrow we head back to Tokyo for our last night in Japan before returning home. It will take time to fully process this experience, but right now I’m grateful I took my chances on the far side of the world. A more in-depth reflection will come later.