Autumn is a time for outdoor activities in Japan as it is you are finally able to walk around without sweating profusely. In the last few weeks I have climbed two mountains on two different islands in the Hiroshima Harbour.

1. Mount Misen on Miyajima.
The summit is 500 meters above sea level, which didnt look so high from the ferry over, so we stupidly took the shortest/steepest Momijidani course. This basically equates to never-ending roughly cut/made and awkwardly sized stone/concrete/dirt steps from bottom to top... the next day I was definitely regretting the stairmaster-style workout!...It was however quite a nice trek through the forest the entire way, nice and cool with the occasional free roaming deer wandering past going about its business....I was kinda disappointed we didnt see any wild monkeys along the way, that was pretty much the main reason I wanted to go....well after I found out about them, that is.....the view from the top was impressive though gotta say it didnt blow me away. You can however get a sense of appreciation for the new Japanese plan to take over the world.... (see picture one)

2. Mount Aki-no-kofuji on Ninoshima.
The summit of this mountain, dubbed 'small mount fuji' and also 'rice-ball mountain' because of its triangular shape when seen from the city, is 278 meters above sea level. Far less touristy than Miyajima the trail begins through an overgrown bamboo grove and progresses to winding through overgrown bush to scrambling up gritty slopes carved into mini ravines by the rain runoff...The view from the top was more impressive for me as it felt more outdoorsy even though the cityscape still looms large...you can see the workings of the harbour more from Ninoshima as the many oysters the more well known Miyajima is famous for, are grown around it and the neighbouring smaller islands...(you might be able to make them out in the second picture)....Even though the island is only a short ferry trip from the city it has a real-world feel that Hiroshima lacks..the city is all about the future, progress and erasing the past (unless you can make money from it) but Ninoshima has been largely forgotten and stands almost still in time. During the war the island was used as a quarantine station and also the bodies of many bomb victims were buried there...the old time feeling remains as most of the residents are significantly older, think 80+, and the houses are still mostly old style, slightly rundown patched together but authentic Japanese houses..I really liked it, it was a much needed taste of authentic Japan not the bustling overwhelming assault of fakeness that you become desensitized by in the city...