Eric S.
Yelp
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
An island off the coast of Hiroshima is home to hundreds of fearless and inquisitive free-roaming deer.
A day trip for most travelers, Momijidani Park is a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland and offers breathtaking views. Though the main draw is Japan's famous "floating gate" (a huge torii in the middle of the bay), there's a rope course, hiking paths up the mountain, and Miyajima Brewery, a swanky bar and restaurant that makes its own craft beer.
We spent close to 5 hours here during the afternoon of July 26th and left around dusk. There's lots of small shops and food vendors on Miyajima Island, yet the wandering animals provide an endless source of entertainment. You *can* pet the deer, but resist the urge to feed them as this is actually forbidden.
Some deer are tame, perfectly happy just chillin' in the shade of ginkgo trees. Others are more adventurous, going so far as to quite literally stick their nose in traveler's belongings. Purses, backpacks, anything that's unattended is fair game for these creatures, so beware! They WILL steal your food.
Over the course of an afternoon, we saw deer eating (or attempting to eat) women's dresses, paper brochures, and even someone's selfie stick. Nichole C encountered such an animal while holding a tasty looking hand fan and found out the hard way what happens when you get a little too close. RIP hand fan 7/23/16-7/26/19.
Elsewhere on the island are wild monkeys, but we missed them on our visit. Signs are posted advising travelers to not make eye contact, make sudden movements, or offer the primates food. Remember that at the end of the day, they're still wild creatures and most likely haven't had their shots (joke's on them--neither have I).
* TL;DR *
Deer sightings in the Chicago suburbs are a rarity. On this island in Japan, they're just strutting around like it's no big deal, bothering shopkeepers and harassing tourists. It's almost a 100% guarantee that hilarity will ensue (they may even sniff your crotch, so keep an eye on any deer that veer toward your private parts).
The path up the mountain is about as scenic as one can imagine: gentle streams, falling leaves, Edo-period architecture. It looks like a postcard, or one of those 500pc jigsaw puzzles. Truly magnificent, I highly recommend making a 1/2 day trip to Miyajima and Momijidani Park.