Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

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Itsukushima shrine (UNESCO's cultural heritage site) is a most famous and large shrine in Japan. It is easy to walk through it and see main areas. But it is a shrine you need a little time to appreciate slowly. You need to wait for the high tide if you were interested in seeing the shrine completely surrounded by the sea water. If you want to see against the sunset, you have to be there when the sun is slowly setting. You can enjoy the shrine views from several angles - from the ferry, from the town side, from the interior of the shrine. I recommend you should be ready to sacrifice at least a half day to really appreciate a most important shrine in Japan.

One of Japan’s most popular attractions and one of the three Nihon Sankei or ‘Most Scenic Views’ of Japan, the great Otorii gate, is one of those ‘must see’ tourist sites when you travel in this part of Japan. The huge gate, standing at 16 metres high and weighing approx. 60 tons is made in traditional Japanese style and constructed of Japanese camphor trees. Originally constructed in 1168, the gate we see today dates from 1875.

The historic reason for the placing of the torii out in the middle of the bay, is due to the fact that originally, commoners and peasants could not set foot on the island and to even approach the island had to pass through the torii gate, which unlike most torii gates, is surrounded by water but like all other torii gates mark the passing into a sacred space or place.

At high tide, the gate appears to ‘float’ on water and this is when the torii is at its most photogenic, although at low tide it is possible to walk right up to and through the gate. Ideally it would be nice to see the gate at both low and high tide but you would obviously have to stay on the island all day to witness this or come back another day!
Walk east after arriving at the port until you reach the bay. The torii is located in the bay about 200 metres from the shrine.

Central to every visitors trip to the island of Miyajima, will be the Shrine of Itsukushima. This stunning Shinto Shrine is dedicated to the 3 daughters of Susano no Mikoto, the Shinto deity of Seas and Storms.

The beautifully preserved Shrine is suspended over the sea by wooden pillars reaching deep into the silt and sand soil. The water creeping ever closer and eventually surrounding the shrine is a special sight and one’s visit should coincide with approaching high tide if possible.
The first shrine on this site would have been built in the late 6th century, around the year 593, but over the centuries would have been rebuilt and expanded in varying styles. The present day shrine was built in the 16th century, but preserved the style of the earlier shrine built in the 12th century.

The shrine is still a working Shinto Shrine and you should show the utmost respect while visiting. If you are lucky you will hear the daily prayers and you will spot several Shinto nuns in their beautiful but simple white and orange kimono style gowns. There is an entry fee to enter the shrine... ¥300 or ¥500 with entry to Treasure Hall included.

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This UNESCO World Heritage site is probably the second most visited site in Hiroshima.

It is extremely busy during the daytime, when day trippers from the mainland flood the island. Once the last ferry leaves for the night things are a lot more pleasant.

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Various Temple-guards are placed around the Itsukushima Shrine, they were made of solid bronze and looking quite grim in order to prevent bad ghosts from getting into the holy shrine. Something else that is interesting to know about the architecture of temples in Asia is the fact that the tiles mostly will include a symbol for a fish on top of the house -see my last picture. Such a fish should prevent the building from burning down, because the fish is living in the water.

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Marodoharaiden ("Purification Hall") is the largest building of the shrine and to a very large part of it there is access for the tourists and from there you may watch some ceremonies or take a look at the donations that were given to the temply by local companies.
You have to pay a small amount of money to enter the temple and they you simply follow the crowds.

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Otorii is the name of the famous red gate of Itsukushima Shrine and it is one of the 3 most scenic spots in Japan. We had been there in winter, and the water was high, while in low tide you will be able to walk directely to that gate. In my opinion it looks better when surrounded by water and it is hard to believe how many people are going to Miyajima every day,so it will be hard to find the perfect place to take a photo of this gate.

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The holy island of Miyajima has been worshipped as a god since more than 1400 years. In the year 593 the origins of Itsukushima Shrine was built and many other shrines and temples followed and nowadays Miyajima even became a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. The buildings of Itsukushima Shrine, that you see nowadys were constructed in 1168.