excellent. thanks all. i will be doing lots of shopping so if it is colder then i have planned for (i am packing VERY light) i can just buy something.

How long do you plan to stay in Miyajima? you probably want to give yourself 2 hours to travel from Osaka to Hiroshima. So assuming you get there at 9. 2.5 hours at the museum itself, 11:30. Skip lunch, another 1.5 hour at the park, that will bring you to 1:00. Take the train to Miyajimaguchi, 30 minutes, ferry over to Miyajima (you can also take the ferry straight from Hiroshima), another 45 minutes, you won't get to Miyajima till around 2:45. I spent a good 3 hours in Miyajima when i was there, so assuming you walk fast, you will still need 2 i think. I don't know when does the last ferry depart Miyajima. MMM???

the wiki travel page for miyajima (Miyajima travel guide - Wikitravel, for those interested) is telling me that the last ferry back to Miyajimaguchi departs at midnight which is good news. it will be nice to be there for sunset and perhaps dinner.

Oooh.. sunset will be nice... and staying there at night is going to be fun... i don't know whether this is the right season for the low tide, if so, you can even walk up to the Torii and take a picture under it.....

Yeah, if the last ferry departs midnight, then definitely go there..... and there is no reason for you to leave that early then...