The Miyajima, Hiroshima reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Miyajima, Hiroshima

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Miyajima (宮島町; -cho) is a town located on Itsukushima Island (sometimes referred to as Miyajima Island) in Saeki District, Hiroshima, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 2,018 and a density of 66.40 persons per km². The total area is 30.39 km².

In the Shinto religion, Istsukushima Island is considered to be sacred, and there are no maternity wards or cemeteries, as no-one is permitted to give birth or die on the island. Felling trees is also forbidden, leaving the island covered in virgin forest, and providing a habitat for dozens of bird species and the tame deer which are allowed to roam freely.

The town of Miyajima is connected to the mainland by regular ferries to Miyajima-guchi, and less frequent ferries to the city of Hiroshima.

There are several tourist attractions around the town of Miyajima, notably Itsukushima Shrine, Senjo-kaku (the Pavillion of 1,000 mats), Daigan-ji shrine, and Daisho-in shrine. There is also a cable car from near the town, which runs almost to the top of Mount Misen, the highest point of Itsukushima island.

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