Christmas Trip to Miyajima

It's Christmas Eve morning and we're in a taxi on our way out the north gate to Iwakuni Station. We're going to stay at the Aki Grand Hotel at Miyajima.


Downtown Iwakuni


On the platform, Stan has made friends with two young women who like Santa!


Margie on the train - I'm excited!

The river is up as we cross this bridge.


And there's Hwy 2 with Miyajima Island beyond. We're almost there!


Margie in front of a sign at the Miyajimaguchi station.


After a very short taxi ride,we're inside our hotel - Aki Grand Hotel. Read more about it HERE! There's Santa Stan in front of the large Christmas tree in the lobby.

Our first stop is lunch while our room is being prepared. We are ushered into the Italian restaurant, which is the only one open when we arrive. We decide to start with drinks & toast our mini-vacation in this gorgeous hotel!


We each had this beautiful salad with fresh greens, tomato & ham, drizzled with delicious dressing. Look at the shape of this plate!


Stan chose pasta with meat sauce,


but I ordered the fish lunch special. Isn't this beautiful?

Fried fish with (I think) squid ink sauce. It was crunchy & delicious!


In the middle, one small sprig of broccoli on top of 3 bites of roasted potato.


Grilled tomato & hotate (scallops).


We had the same dessert, but notice that each strawberry figure's face is just a little different . . .




Stan had hot tea & I had iced coffee. What a fabulous & satisfying lunch!

Looking across the restaurant with green, white & red tablecloths. We're the only people having lunch in here now.




On our way out, we spotted these cute wine bottle caps made into tiny chairs (each is different!) and corks carved into cute shapes!


More cute tiny chairs . . .


Christmas decorations in the restaurant.

The whole back of this hotel faces the sea, so it's all glass. There are migrating birds flying over the sea.





From the second floor looking down at the boat dock & Miyajima Island. All the walls here are beautiful stone.


This lobby is huge!


There are a few businessmen in the lounge facing the sea on the lobby level.

Looking up the grand staircase with indoor balconies above.


Under the staircase, is a shallow indoor replica of the Inland Sea around Miyajima, including the Torii gate.


What a coincidence - our room number is our anniversary - July 18!


Wow -- look at the view from our room!

We're facing Miyajima Island over the trees.


Can you see the bright orange Torii gate across the sea?


Looking down at the pool - but it's too cold to be open now.


Looking to my left at the curved balconies & beautiful coastline.


Those are the famous Miyajima oyster beds.

This part of our bathroom had wood floors, and double sinks in wood countertop.


The bathing area of our bath is in a separate room, but we didn't bathe here -- we used the huge Japanese baths downstairs in the hotel.


Closeup of the towel hanging on the tub.


And the fancy potty was in it's own water closet with it's own bath slippers.


Looking from our bed area into the tatami room area. On the left wall was a small table & two chairs - regular height where we had our tea and played with a wooden puzzle that was provided. The window has sliding shutters to control light & roll down blinds, but we left them open to enjoy the view.

Looking toward the right end of the tatami room. The huge window is to the left & the tatami mat closet is on the right. You're supposed to have your tea here at this low table, but it's too difficult for me to get down there, and especially get back up again!


This closet holds tatami mats and down coverlets. This room can sleep up to 7 people, which would accommodate a whole family I guess . . .


Looking from the tatami room back into the bedroom area. There are wood sliding doors that can close to separate the two areas. Off to the right is the hot tea machine, TV & fridge. OH - that's Stan on the bed using his Santa hat for modesty . . .


We've gone down to the lounge for a drink. There are poinsettias on every table, but we are the only customers. After all, it's just a regular Thursday night in Japan.

When's the last time you had a "classic" daiquiri made in a shaker instead of in a blender? I had forgotten how good it is not to try to drink a snow cone!


Yum! Wow - does this bring back memories . . . Check out the recipe HERE!


Poster advertisement for couples wishing to have their wedding at Miyajima Island and/or here in the hotel. If you cover up the right two zeros, you can estimate how much US dollars each would cost, but I don't know what all it includes.


We're going to take a Japanese bath before dinner. This is the entrance to the men's bath. Blue is the international color for men; red for women.


Those are massage chairs to the right.