Japan – Fukuoka & Hiroshima & Miyajima

Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima delivered a seamless blend of culture, cuisine, and unforgettable moments. In Fukuoka, we lucked into tickets for a sumo championship (an electric atmosphere made even more memorable by meeting some of the wrestlers), and visited Nanzoin Temple to stand before the world’s largest bronze reclining Buddha, an awe-inspiring figure tucked into the hills. Hiroshima offered both energy and reflection, from the dramatic Kagura Show bringing ancient folklore to life, to the deeply moving Peace Memorial sites (the Atomic Bomb Dome, Victims Memorial, Flame of Peace, and museum), each a powerful reminder of the past. Miyajima Island felt almost dreamlike, with its iconic floating torii gate rising from the water and a rewarding climb up Mt. Misen, especially stunning in autumn colors. And throughout it all, the food scene was a highlight in its own right—from rich bowls at Ichiran (arguably the best ramen anywhere) to casual, delicious sushi at Sushiro, and even some standout Vietnamese spots. It’s a journey that strikes a perfect balance between joy, reflection, and incredible flavors at every turn.

Promotional poster with a modern stylized representation of Mount Fuji

Costumed mascots in front of the Fukuoka Kokusai Center, where a two week sumo championship will be held

Sumo wrestlers hailing a cab

Becky meeting two sumo wrestlers in Fukuoka for a Sumo Championship

Red arched entranceway to a building in Fukuoka

Hakata Honey Trap - a bar in Fukuoka

Becky showing off our tiny room at Fukuoka Guesthouse HIVE

Stone relief sculpture located on the Saimon Bridge in Fukuoka

Little Asia Market in Fukuoka

Vendor selling sumo souvenirs at the Fukuoka Sumo Championship

Becky in her best sumo pose

Trophy of a Yokozuna (grand champion) professional sumo wrestler

Promotional poster for the 2023 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center

Unranked sumo wrestlers battling it out inside a traditional dohyo ring (notice that most of the seats are still empty early in the morning)

The Makuuchi division dohyo-iri (ring entry ceremony) during the Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament

Yobidashi (ring attendants) performing the meticulous ritual of sweeping the dohyō (sumo ring). This is done before each bout to maintain the clay surface and clear away excess salt

Grand Sumo tournaments, known as honbasho, are prestigious events held only six times a year

Rikishi (pro sumo wrestlers) in a dohyō-iri (ring-entering ceremony). They wear highly decorative, embroidered silk aprons called keshō-mawashi, in bold colors with symbols representing their hometown, stable, or sponsors

Sumo wrestlers lift and stomp their legs (a practice called shiko) to drive away evil spirits and stretch their hips & groin. This is crucial for preparing for a match and helps to maintain flexibility

When a yokozuna (grand champion) exits the ring after performing the dohyō-iri (ring entrance ceremony), they are accompanied by two high-ranking attendants known as rikishi. These attendants are the tachimochi (sword bearer) and the tsuyuharai (dew sweeper)

The low stance (tachiai) that a sumo wrestler adopts before a bout is a position designed to maximize power, stability, and control. This posture minimizes the body's center of gravity and readies the wrestler for immediate, explosive action

Sponsors play a vital role through advertisements called kenshō-maku, which are the vertical banners paraded around the ring before a match begins. For every banner paraded, the sponsor contributes a prize of approximately $300 which is given to the winning wrestler at the end of the match in an envelope

Sumo wrestler performing the Yumitori-shiki (bow-twirling ceremony), a traditional ritual that concludes every day of a Grand Sumo tournament

Fukuoka city canal at night

Ichiran Ramen is a famous Japanese ramen chain known for specializing in tonkotsu (pork-based broth) ramen. It is insanely delicious and a must try when visiting Fukuoka!

Robby extremely happy with his bowl of Ichiran Ramen

Sanmon gate at Shōfuku-ji Temple in the Hakata district of Fukuoka

Kuri (kitchen) hall of Jōten-ji Temple

Stone sculpture of three Jizō statues, known as Ryo-en Jizo. They are characterized by their serene, smiling expressions and "huddled" appearance

Sleeping Buddha in a Zen garden

Decorative manhole cover near the Hakata Sennen-no-Mon Gate in Fukuoka

Hakata Sennen-no-Mon (Thousand Year Gate) in Hakata Old Town; Fukuoka

Decorative wall mural at the Hakata Bus Terminal in Fukuoka

Robby stands between statues of Hotei (the deity of happiness and contentment) at the entrance of Nanzo-in Temple

Traditional Japanese stone lanterns (tōrō) located at the Nanzo-in Temple in Sasaguri

Stone statue of a Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) at the Nanzoin Temple

Jizo Bosatsu statue, a common Japanese Buddhist figure known as the guardian deity of travelers and children

Statue of an Arhat (enlightened disciple of Buddha) along a path at the Nanzoin Temple

Arhat statues at Nanzoin Temple. They each have unique facial expressions and poses

Robby smiling as he descends a narrow passage at Nanzoin Temple

Memorial wall featuring small bronze plaques of monks at Nanzoin Temple

A Japanese "Oyako Jizo" (Parent and Child Jizo) statue at Nanzoin Temple

The world's largest bronze reclining Buddha is at Nanzo-in Temple. It is 135 feet (41 meters) in length and 36 feet (11 meters) in height

Becky standing at the feet of the world's largest reclining Buddha; Nanzoin Temple

A Japanese visitor brought his pet ferret to the Nanzoin Temple!

Stone statues of Jizo (a revered Bodhisattva in Japanese Buddhism which is often depicted as a monk). Visitors have placed handmade red hats and red & yellow scarves on the Jizo

A shrine dedicated to Daikokuten, a deity of wealth and good fortune, at Nanzo-in Temple

Canal City Hakata - a large shopping and entertainment complex in Fukuoka

Becky smiling at the Hakata branch of Ichiran, a renowned Japanese restaurant chain specializing in tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen

Ichiran is the tastiest ramen in Japan! Customers fill out a form to choose broth richness, garlic, green onions, pork, and noodle firmness

Goodbye Fukuoka! Thanks for the amazing sumo memories

Robby relaxes on our train from Fukuoka to Hiroshima

A train in Japan decorated with a large portrait of the popular Japanese musician and actor, Kōji Kikkawa

A ferry shuttling passengers and cars from Miyajima Island

First glimpse of the iconic "floating" torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima Island

A young Japanese Sika deer on Miyajima Island

Two of the estimated 1200 free roaming Sika deer on Miyajima Island

Posing in front of Itsukushima Shrine's vermillion torii gate

Jizo Bosatsu statue of a Buddhist monk sleeping while hugging a pig at the Daishoin Temple; Miyajima Island

Hundreds of Jizo Buddha statues wearing hand-knitted red hats can be seen at Daishoin Temple

Statue of Enma-o, the King of Hell and Judge of the Underworld in Japanese Buddhist mythology; Daishō-in Temple

Smiling stone Jizō figures at Daishō-in Temple

A beautiful autumn scene at the Daishō-in Temple (one of the most significant temples of Buddhism in Japan, established in 806)

Daisho-in is the oldest and most spiritually significant temple on Miyajima Island, nestled at the foot of Mount Misen

Stone steps on one of the ascent trails of Mount Misen, the highest peak on Miyajima Island at 535 meters

Robby on the trail leading up to the summit of Mt Misen

Beautiful fall foliage on our hike up to the summit of Mt Misen

Niomon Gate located on the Daishoin hiking trail to the summit of Mount Misen; Miyajima Island

Smiling as we near the summit of Mt Misen

A Sika deer at the summit of Mt Misen. These deer have roamed the island for over 800 years and are considered sacred messengers of the gods

Breathtaking panorama of Hiroshima Bay and the surrounding islands within the Seto Inland Sea from the summit of Mount Misen

Robby laughs as a sika deer licks his hand at the summit of Mt Misen

This is the Kuguri-iwa ("Passing through Rock"), a natural tunnel formed by enormous granite boulders leaning against each other near the summit of Mount Misen on Miyajima Island

Visitors donated a baseball cap and sunglasses to this Jizo statue near the summit of Mt Misen

Stunning autumn foliage at Momijidani (Maple Valley) Park on Miyajima Island. Located at the foot of Mt Misen, this park is famous for viewing "momiji" (autumn) maple leaves

Momijidani Park is famous for its natural beauty and particularly scenic during the autumn season

Vibrant autumn foliage at Momijidani Park on Miyajima Island

The iconic vermilion Momijidani Bridge, located at the foot of Mount Misen on Miyajima Island

A young couple in traditional Japanese wedding attire happily pose for a photo on Miyajima Island

A sika deer grazes in front of the historic Daiganji Temple on Miyajima Island

Itsukushima Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine complex built over the water on Miyajima Island

Japanese high school girls with heavily decorated school bags. This trend of personalizing school bags with trinkets, plushies, and charms is a prominent part of Japanese youth and "kawaii" culture

A jinrikisha (traditional hand pulled rickshaw) driver on Miyajima Island

One last look at the famous 55 foot tall floating torii gate of Miyajima Island

Matcha steamed buns for sale on Miyajima Island

A performer playing a traditional Japanese taiko drum during a kagura performance

A performer dressed in a white satin costume for a kagura show

Performers in a kagura show in Hiroshima. Kagura is a traditional Japanese theatrical performance meant to entertain and honor Shinto deities

Dragon-serpents from the Hiroshima kagura show

Posing with the kagura troupe after the Hiroshima kagura show

Robby enjoying a delicious Vietnamese dessert called "chè ba màu" (pudding served in layers with crushed ice, coconut milk, red beans, yellow mung bean paste, and green pandan jelly)

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (commonly known as the Atomic Bomb Dome)

A group of visitors using virtual reality headsets for a guided tour at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

School group visiting the Children's Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

A collection of origami cranes (senbazuru) in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims; Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

A clock frozen at 8:15, the exact moment the atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945

Aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima showing the ruins around the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall (now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dome)