On Miyajima, you’ll find many opportunities to capture evocative images of this unique Japanese island--but images of everyday things, like food, also sell well on stock websites

Fog clung to our clothes. The air smelled of wet wood smoke. The wind chilled our bones. We were on our way down Mount Misen, on the Japanese island of Miyajima. We’d ridden two ropeways to the top, cameras in hand, to photograph the famous panoramic view of the Inland Sea. Sadly, visibility was poor and it was starting to look like we would be heading back empty handed.

This was our second day on the island and we planned to tour its main town in the afternoon once we finished our hike. But in the fog, we were starting to wonder if we’d ever manage to find the town.

Finally, out of the gloom, the landmark Reika-do Eternal Fire Hall appeared. It was quite a sight. It features a black cauldron of boiling holy water, suspended above a fire that is said to have been burning for the past 1,200 years.

Finding the Fire Hall meant we could quickly gather our bearings. The town was close by, so we decided to try the local specialty—oysters. And yes, we both agreed—they were the best we’d ever tasted.

We came to Japan on a side-trip after a stay in Korea. With our three-month Korean visas set to expire, we decided it was the perfect time to fulfill a life-long dream of staying in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).

We were staying in a ryokan called Iwaso. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Misen, Iwaso was the first inn built on the island, way back in 1893. In spite of renovations over the years, it has managed to maintain its traditional design (with the welcome addition of modern plumbing).

During the two-night stay, we were regularly rewarded with sumptuous kaiseki (traditional ryokan dinners), served in our room by our Nakai-san (maid). We got to sample the onsen (hot outdoor spring baths) along a bubbling mountain stream and at night, we slept on futons (they pile them four-high, for comfort), on a tatami mat-covered floor.

The island of Miyajima has always been considered sacred, to both the Buddhist and Shinto religions. In fact, if you go hiking, you will find dozens of small shrines tucked away in the forest. The most famous shrine, however, is the vermilion-colored ‘floating gate’. Built on stilts over the water in 1148 AD, this striking structure is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Named ‘Itsukushimajinja’, it is the home of three Shinto goddesses of the sea. On weekends, you will see brides dressed in their kimonos arriving with their wedding parties to get a photo, and perhaps a blessing, at the shrine.

On Miyajima, you’ll find many opportunities to capture evocative images of this unique Japanese island and the people who live there. Pictures like these sell well on stock websites, but it’s not just the exotic that they are interested in. Images of everyday things sell just as well—and sometimes better.

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