I got up early to see the shrine (full name Itsukushima Shrine) and iconic torii (full name Itsukushima Shrine Ootorii; the "oo" means great/grand) before the crowds arrive. The shrine opens at 6:30 and there's a small fee. To get to the torii you can just walk along the beach (if the tide is out).

Deer wander around Miyajima. You have to be careful they don't snaffle your ice cream.

Grilled oysters seem to be a speciality round here. I tried one with cheese and mayonnaise. It wasn't bad at all.

The flat wooden rice scoops the Japanese use (called shamoji) originated in Miyajima and here is the world's biggest (7.7 metres long and weighs 2.5 tonnes). It was carved from a 270-year-old Zelkova tree, took over two years to make, and was finished in 1983, though it didn’t go on display until around 1996 because they couldn’t find a space large enough for it.

In the basement of the Sakuraya there is a small spa with separate sections for men and women. If you go shortly after it opens at 3pm there's a good chance you'll have it all to yourself (see photo below, here is the 360 version).

I have one more night in Miyajima then it's off to Moji tomorrow.