Photo: Guohua Song / PexelsThe island itself was the deity, so commoners could not set foot on it — and the shrine was therefore built on piles over the tidal flat, with its great torii standing in the sea. Worshippers arrived by boat and passed through the gate on the water without ever touching sacred ground.
A shrine has stood here since at least 593; the form you see was built by Taira no Kiyomori in 1168 as a Heian aristocratic mansion over the sea. The current torii is the ninth, raised in 1875, about 16 metres tall, held in place by nothing but its own weight.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Check the tide table before choosing your ferry: high water floats the shrine, low water lets you walk out and touch the torii.
- The deer will take your map, your ticket and your ice cream. Keep paper in a bag.
- Walk past the shopping street first and see the shrine — the shops are there on the way back.
- The ropeway up Mt. Misen stops short of the summit; the last stretch is a real twenty-minute climb.
- Grilled oysters from a street stall are the correct lunch, November to March especially.
The current torii is the ninth, raised in 1875, about 16 metres tall, held in place by nothing but its own weight.
Guided ways to do Miyajima
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
5.0★ · 55 reviewsMiyajima Sea Pilgrimage to Itsukushima Shrine Oyster Farm Visit
From US$97.
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5.0★ · 38 reviewsHiroshima & Miyajima: UNESCO A-Bomb Dome & Itsukushima with Local
From US$214.
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5.0★ · 33 reviewsMiyajima Highlights: Itsukushima Shrine & Island Nature
From US$156.
Why we list it →More in Hiroshima
Spot guideThe Peace Memorial Park
Kenzo Tange's argument, in concrete and sightlines
Open the guide →
Spot guideHiroshima Castle
The keep is closed now — the grounds are the reason to go
Open the guide →
Spot guideShukkei-en
A feudal lord's garden from 1620, in the middle of the city, free if you are 65
Open the guide →Questions people ask here
How long does Miyajima take from the Hiroshima cruise port?
About two hours each way door to door — tram or taxi to Miyajimaguchi, then a ten-minute ferry — plus three hours minimum on the island. It works on an eight-hour stop ashore, is a straight either-or against the Peace Park on six, and does not fit a short call at all.
Is Miyajima better at high tide or low tide?
Different, not better. High tide gives the floating shrine of the photographs; low tide lets you walk several hundred metres out and stand beneath the torii itself. Check the tide table for your date and pick your ferry accordingly.