Itsukushima Shrine is the crowning monument and namesake of Itsukushima Island (or, as it is popularly known, Miyajima, “shrine island”). A UNESCO world heritage listed site and a national treasure, the Itsukushima Shrine holds great cultural significance for the Shinto religion. Explore the shrine’s sacred buildings and stroll along connecting boardwalks. Enjoy views of the magnificent shrine complex and be awed by the way it appears to float above the waters of the Onoseto Strait.
Spot Itsukushima Shrine and its imposing red torii gate from the coast of Hatsukaichi. As you approach Miyajima by ferry, see the magnificent buildings set on piers coming into view. The island holds an ancient spiritual sanctity and is believed to have held a shrine for over 1,400 years. At the shrine’s entrance, visit the purification trough. If you’d like, participate in a purification ritual, washing your hands with water from bamboo ladles. Wander along the corridors and observe the shrine complex’s superb architecture. Look up to see magnificent red awnings, black roofs, gold embellishments and swinging lanterns.
Continue on to see the Marodo Shrine, dedicated to five different deities. You’ll also see a Purification Hall for the Main Shrine, as well as a series of stages. Check out the main Noh Stage, which dates back to the 1500s and is used for performances and dances that act out Shinto myths.
Several additional shrines are located within the complex, connected by elegant bridges and arches. Stay until sunset to see the majestic shrine complex illuminated with lanterns. While you can’t enter the shrine complex after sunset, it is a beautiful sight to see from an evening cruise or stroll around the island.
Itsukushima Shrine is located on Miyajima, an island off the coast of Hatsukaichi in the Hiroshima prefecture. Reach the island by ferry from Miyajimaguchi Train Station. The shrine is open daily and does not charge admission. The shrine complex and the striking red torii gate are most picturesque at high tide, when the structures appear to be floating above the water.
