We were not scheduled to leave Hiroshima today until 4 o'clock in the afternoon so we took the train out to the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. It is on Miyajima, an island about 10 miles southwest of the city. 
The day was wonderful to go to the island. It must have been oyster season in that part of Japan. On the ferry crossing to Miyajima we saw countless oyster traps strung out in long patterns on the waters of Hiroshima Bay.
There are all these nasty scrawny-looking deer running loose on the property. I cannot see how parents allow their young children to touch these dirty animals. They leave their droppings on the ground everywhere. With food vendors cooking their foods outdoors I would think that these animals would be a health hazard. The scene of these deer running free in such a crowded place seemed so out of character for the Japanese. They are such neat and clean individuals.
We pulled out of Hiroshima at 4:06 p.m. Melba and I got off at Shin-Yokohama at 7:45 p.m. The Shinkansen stops here for only one minute, so you have to move fast if you are getting on or off. A couple of hours later we made our way back to Yokosuka following a train ride and a couple of taxi hops. The Saenz went on to Tokyo, arriving at 8:13 p.m. After that they still had about two hours before they would get home.
