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Add to SafariWhen comparing Miyajima Island vs Nara, the Slant community recommends Nara for most people. In the question“What are the best cities to visit in Japan besides Tokyo and Kyoto?” Nara is ranked 2nd while Miyajima Island is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Nara is:
There are wild deer roaming all the local parks. You can buy feed for cheap and enjoy being chased by dozens of deers.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Maple leaf cakes
MIyajima is famous for freshly made maple leaf-shaped cake.
Pro Wild deer
There are several locations in Japan populated by wild deer. Although Nara is most famous for them, Miyajima is a lesser-known deer city.
Pro Only floating shrine in all of Japan
Seeing the waves splash against the shrine is considered one of the Three Views of Japan. The location is also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pro Wild deers everywhere
There are wild deer roaming all the local parks. You can buy feed for cheap and enjoy being chased by dozens of deers.
Pro Quiet, serene primeval forest
The Kasugayama Primeval Forest behind the shrine is a peaceful place to go hiking. Although it isn't nearly as mysterious in person as 'primeval forest' sounds, it's still a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban cities.
Pro Close to Kyoto
Pro Ancient shrine
Kasuga Shrine is one of the oldest shrines in Japan and the head of the Kasuga branch of shrines. The moss covering much of the architecture is unique compared to the spotless shrines in other parts of Japan.
Cons
Con Crowded during the daytime
Miyajima is a popular day-trip location from tourists in Hiroshima, so there's quite a few people walking around town during the day. However, the last boat back to Hiroshima leaves prior to sunset, so watching the famous tori gate during the sunset will be far less crowded.
Con Requires a boat ride to get to
Since Miyajima is an island, you have to take a boat from Hiroshima to get to it.
