Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island is one of Japan's Three Views and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its dramatic 'floating' O-torii gate that stands in the tidal waters of the Seto Inland Sea. Built largely over the water, the shrine's covered corridors and pavilions appear to float during high tide, creating one of the most photographed scenes in all of Japan. The island itself is considered sacred, and deer roam freely among the visitors and shrine buildings. Beyond the shrine, Mount Misen offers hiking trails to panoramic views over the Inland Sea.
- Type
- Venue
- Category
- Temple/Shrine
- Season
- Year-round
- Month
- Year-round
- Region
- Chugoku
- Prefecture
- Hiroshima
- City
- Hatsukaichi (Miyajima)
Highlights
- ◆Iconic floating O-torii gate at high tide
- ◆UNESCO World Heritage Site shrine complex
- ◆Free-roaming sacred deer on the island
- ◆Mount Misen hike with panoramic Inland Sea views
- ◆30-minute ferry from Hiroshima city