Sunset at Miyajima 宮島 on Dec 31, 2016
Before the start of festival, groups were seen going to various shops to wish them "long lives"
Priest officiating the festival
Kids-only team carrying a smaller torch
Chinkasai Fire Festival is held every year on New Year's eve at Miyajima
Parading up and down several times while chanting "taimatsu yoi yoi"
Groups carrying these giant torches made from pine
Locals bringing the embers home as good luck charm and to welcome the new year
Mt Misen - sun peeping over the horizon on Jan 1, 2017
Hatsuhinode (first sunrise on new year day) on Mt Misen
Overnight snow flakes still remained on wooden railings along the trek
Omotesando street on Miyajima Island
Yummy grilled oysters
Famed torii at Miyajima during high tide
Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社
Long line of people entering the shrine for hatsumode (first visit to Shinto shrine on New Year's day)
Daisho-in Temple (Buddhist) on Miyajima
Each has a winter scarf
Daisho-in Temple ground
Special altar for children
View of the Hiroshima Castle from hotel room
A-bomb dome next to the Motoyasu River
Cenotaph at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Sunset at A-bomb (Genbaku) dome on Jan 1, 2017
