My shoes crunched the sandy white gravel on Miyajima Island as enthusiastic deer surrounded us, nuzzling our hands for food. Unfortunately, we had nothing to offer though the smells of roasting corn on the cob and sizzling squid tentacles from street vendors suggested otherwise.
Down on the beach, the majestic red torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine stood grandly over us, framed by the clear blue sky. The gate appeared to float in the low-tide. Late afternoon light casted a torii shadow over locals posing for photos. Japanese girls in their stiletto-heeled boots dodged the seaweed as they hold up peace signs for the lens.
As I breathed in the salty sea air, pausing to bask in the remaining autumn sunlight before dusk, I savoured this unique moment of old and new Japan.
