Visit Miyajima Island, Japan

Miyajima, or Itsukushima as it was formerly known, has been sacred to the Japanese since the inception of the first shrine on the island over 1,500 years ago.

The present incarnation of the Itsukushima-jinja shrine is one of the island's greatest attractions, and the "floating" red torii gate that stands in the shallow waters of the bay when the tide is in remains one of the most photographed views in Japan. The small town has a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, particularly in the evenings and early mornings once the day-trippers have returned to the mainland.

There are several other smaller temples and shrines dotted around the island that are well worth a visit and Mt Misen (530 m) offers great views from its summit and is also home to troupes of wild monkeys.