Itsukushima

I have nothing but excellent things to say about this island. After living in Japan for 6 years, this place was absolutely a highlight. Despite it being a tourist hotspot, it didn't feel particularly overcrowded on a Thursday afternoon. Very easily accessible by ferry, only a 10-minute ride and we used our Suica card for boarding, 300 yen one way. I was shocked to see how massive this place really was. There are a couple hiking trails that take 4 to 5 hours to complete, which we will come back to and didn't have the opportunity to do this time. Plenty of shopping streets for souvenirs, plenty of food vendors, and tons of deer also! We easily spent 3 to 4 hours here. I would recommend springtime for a visit where it's not too hot yet. We went on a day where it was about 16 Celsius with the sun out, and it was just perfect. Not too windy out either. Tons of foreign visitors here, me being one of them, so just take your time while transiting the streets because it's really easy to bump into people. Otherwise, what an amazing place to visit in a staple to our visit to Hiroshima!

This place was gorgeous! We went in mid-December. The floating Tori gate is a must see! The deer are pretty chill..sometimes they bite your clothes though. Feeding these deer is prohibited not like in Nara. There are tons of shops and food places here. But we got stunning views when we rode the miyajima ropeway. This was definitely a highlight! I wish we allotted for more time here. It can definitely be a whole day trip. Also, if you're looking for convenience and staying near hiroshima peace park, there is a boat that leaves from the canal near the peace park. It's pricier then taking the train and ferry out to the island but it is another option for those who dont mind paying the higher price. Don't forget to get the famous momiji manju! There are also all kinds of flavor fillings to choose from for those who are not fans of azuki beans. I liked the lemon and chocolate.

Absolute must visit if you are near Hiroshima. A beautiful peaceful island where you can just wander all day.

One of my top highlights of my trip! Aside from the shrine the island itself is so beautiful and such a good day trip. The deer are so cute and has lovely shops to explore.

Very special and beautiful island. Plenty of things to see and experience. You can buy nice souvenirs here as well. Be careful to check when js the last ferry to take you back unless you want to sleep on the island. The best time is during sunset but it is pretty crowded at that time also. I highly recommend you to visit this place

If you’re in Hiroshima, a visit to Miyajima is a must. It’s about an hour away from Hiroshima Station, including the ferry ride, and the trip itself is part of the fun. Once you arrive, you’ll find the island pretty developed with lots of shops, restaurants, and little streets to explore. The main highlight, of course, is the giant floating torii gate — it’s really something to see in person. There are also a few temples and parks you can check out while you’re there. The island can get busy with tourists, but it still feels relaxing and charming. Great for a half-day or full-day trip if you want to experience something a little different outside the city.

A definitely worthy-visit Island, which has Shrines⛩️Temple, hiking Mt. Misen⛰️ gentle deers🦌etc… There’re some stunning views during your hiking path :)

Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, is a breathtaking place with a serene and spiritual atmosphere. The iconic floating torii gate is stunning, especially during high tide when it appears to hover above the water. Walking around the island is a peaceful experience, with beautiful shrines, friendly deer, and scenic trails. If possible, I highly recommend spending a night on the island. I didn’t know this was an option and regretted not being able to do so, as I believe it’s well worth it. Staying overnight allows you to experience the island with fewer crowds and gives you the chance to hike up the mountain to a viewpoint, which must be an incredible experience.

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima which is also known as Miyajima that is best known for its "floating" torii gate. It is in the city of Hatsukaichi, in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan that you can get to by a nice, relaxing ferry ride at Miyajimaguchi Station. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I love any all Torii gates and I was happy to see it from the ferry and also up close. The other structure brown color is actually the Noh Drama Stage, constructed in the Ichiju-kiritsuma style, has a thatched Japanese cypress roof is also pretty. During this time October 2024, there was still some construction going on in this area where the bridge is. It was a perfect warm day. It was a long walk from the Ferry building about 20 minutes. But don't worry there are shops and food vendors to keep you busy. Make sure you eat the oysters on a skewer here from that one vendor that has a sign only here you can get this oysters. My tour guide recommended this place as it is the best one on this island. You can thank me later! I still dream about this and I am back home!

Miyajima Island has a long history as a holy site of Shinto. The island's highest peak, Mount Misen, was worshiped by local people as early as the 6th century. In 1168, Taira no Kiyomori, the most powerful man in Japan during the end of the Heian Period, selected the island as the site of his clan's family shrine and built Itsukushima Shrine. 300¥ to enter... Low tide... Well kept and of moderate size. Well worth visiting as an epic historic shrine. You need to take a ferry over. Prior to entry is a small village with lots of touristy shops and dining... We had dinner in a well reviewed restaurant (). Plus many tame deer roaming.

Itsukushima Shrine / Miyajima -- A trip to Hiroshima just doesn't seem complete without visiting this holy Shinto site. The good news was that we could use our JR Pass not only for the short train ride from Hiroshima but also for the brief ferry ride over to the island where the mythic vermillion shrine appears to float over the water. The centerpiece is the Great Torii Gate (review: https://yelp.to/TWtMyrwc2Z). It's about a ten-minute walk from the ferry landing, and you're likely to run into the wild deer that will unapologetically snatch anything in your hand, edible or otherwise. Otherwise you pay ¥300 at the entrance and follow the boardwalk path through the shrine complex. There appeared to be a lot of renovation going on when we were there but nothing that blocked the stunning scenic views. RELATED - Exploring Japan? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2qrUBZo

Stay the night in Miyajima if you can, it's the best way to experience this beautiful island. The shrine in the morning before 8am is completely empty and peaceful. It's really magical just walking around the grounds with nobody around. The goshuin was available and handwritten in front of you, not pre-written. They are renovating certain parts of the temple. I would come back here again and again, aesthetically Miyajima Island is just a photographers paradise. The entrance fee is 300 yen and they open at 6:30am, the goshuin is available at that time as well. Hope you get to enjoy the views at low and high tide!

What's up: We jumped on the Hello Kitty Shinkansen from JR Shin Osaka Station and made our way over to spend the day exploring the island with the "floating torii gate" (aka Itsukushima Shrine)! Access: From the JR Miyajimaguchi Station, it's about a 6 minute walk to the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Boarding Area. And from there, it's a 10 minute ferry ride to Miyajima. If you have a JR Pass, the ferry ride is covered! Then, it's another 9 minute walk from there to Itsukushima Shrine. Environment: Before coming, we checked the ferry schedule on their website to make sure we had plenty of time to spend on the island. We also checked the tide times so that we could see the torii gate when it's "floating" in the water. The ferry ride itself was quick and smooth. Once you arrive on the island, it's a short walk to the Shrine. Just follow the crowd heading towards the floating torii gate, you won't miss it. There's plenty of shops along the way so you can grab souvenirs as well as snack on the local dishes. You can also find plenty of deer here! There are also hiking trails that you can take to explore the area. What was ordered: - Ferry ride (if you have a JR Pass, all you need to do is show it to the staff members) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. This was a nice trip to explore the island. We got to see the popular floating torii gate and see some deers too. It's a popular destination since it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Loved it, I highly recommend going. It's a great activity to do with the family - my, at the time, 13-month-old, had a blast. During low tide, you can walk out to the Torii gate, during high tide, the shrine gives the feeling almost as if it were floating on the water. There are wild deer, so keep an eye on your belongings and children - especially if you are holding food!

Itsukushima shrine is a very very very famous tourist spot in Japan. So, I don't write my review about the venue of the shrine. I just write about Goshuin only. We can get "Goshuin" (handwritten sign and stamp of shrines and temples) at here. They offer it at Goshuin window on the shrine shop which is located inside the precincts. At first, we should get inside after paying the entrance fee. The shrine shop is at the end of the corridor. Goshuin charges 300 yen. And they have the original Goshuin collection books of this shrine. It charges 1000 yen. When you buy the collecting book at here, then you can start to collect Goshuin from here. In addition, the beginning of the opening hour is 8 o'clock. The closing hour will change depending on the season. Details about Goshuin is below. http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html 厳島神社は日本のとっても有名な観光スポットです。 あまりにも有名なので神社自体のレビューは置いておいて、御朱印についてだけ書いておきます。 御朱印は拝観料を払って中に入り、回廊を進んだ奥にあります。 授与所に御朱印所がありますので、そちらで頂戴する事が出来ます。 初穂料は300円です。 また、厳島神社オリジナル御朱印帳も頒布しています。 そちらの初穂料は1000円になります。 なお、御朱印所の授与開始時刻は午前8時からです。 終了時間は季節によって違いますのでご注意下さい。 御朱印については下記のリンク先にまとめてあります。 http://60ee3107.starfree.jp/goshuin.html

Itsukushima Shrine... Also known as the "floating torii gate", this famous red landmark is not only a popular tourist attraction, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beautiful architecture, cherry blossoms, and landscaping are outstanding! Located on the sacred island of Miyajima Island, our tour group rode a ferry to get closer to this Shinto Shrine. When the tide is low, people can walk from the island to the torii gate! Why is this island sacred? There are three female deities that reside here. Sake barrels along the Shrine are offerings. People can request private ceremonies. Our tour guide showed us how to pay our respects and make a donation. I asked for continued blessings for my family and friends... Wild deer roam around as special messengers. Posted signs discourage feeding of the deer. The deer went up to people who were having lunch out in the open to see they could get a bite! Haha! There were many shops (with super cute deer souvenirs) and several restaurants on Miyajima Island. Our tour group had time to roam around and have lunch on our own. I was surprised when a woman at the next table started smoking a cigarette. I finished my yummy Oyster udon quickly and left the restaurant. Overall, this was one of the highlights of our 13 day tour of Japan. I sure wouldn't mind returning...maybe during low tide so I can walk to Itsukushima Shrine!

You must visit Miyajima island when you're in Hiroshima! The Itsukushuma Shrine is one of the popular tourists spots on the island especially their Torii gate! You can honestly spend a good half or whole day in this island. We came in the morning and pretty much had the shrine to ourselves due to our smaller crowd, which is pretty nice in terms of photo opportunities. The shrine is gorgeous and sits above "water," but depending on the time of day, it'll be either at low tide or high tide. You need to pay an admission to go inside the shrine but to visit the surrounding area is free admission. Highly recommend!

This is a must visit place. Just look at my pictures and go. Damn. What you want. Go.

Miyajima (宮島) is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views. While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine island". This is because the island is so closely related to its key shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, in the public's mind. Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water. Miyajima is a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island's ryokan. While there are usually many day tourists, in the evening the area becomes much quieter and more peaceful. There are also wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.

Itsukushima shrine is a must visit if you are in Hirosjima. From JR Hirosjima station, take a local train from platform 1 for about 20 mins to Mitajima Guchi. Walk to the ferry terminal for 5 mins, a ferry departs every 20 mins and ferry ride is less than 10 mins. If you have a JR pass, take a JR ferry as price is included. Shrine is located at the Miyajima island, and the whole island considered holly. Visit both during high tide and low tide if possible. During high tide (mid day and night), the torii gate looks like it is floating in the water. During low tide area, you get to walk up to the torii gate. I saw so many pictures at night and during sunset/sunrise, I would have love to come back and spend a night here at one of their onsen. If you see wild deers, do not feed them and be gentle. The area is known for oysters. I tried them and they were very good.

The shrine on Miyajima Island is located at the middle of the bay with the gate extending into the sea. It's quite amazing at low tide, you can see the water line at the base of the temple. I wish I could see it at high tide to see the gate and temple floating on the water. Locals pick clams during low tide so bring slippers if you want to do so. There is a few dollars fee to enter the temple but if its low tide you can just walk down on the sand and to the gate for free. The gate is the real attraction not the temple. Unless its high tide then i think it would be worth the fee, to see the temple "floating on the ocean" There are a bunch of deer roaming around, they are quite friendly, and used to people feeding them, if you do, they will follow you around for a bit, so refrain from doing so they can become slightly persistent if they want something from you, otherwise they are pretty friendly. The JR ferry is free with your rail pass. Be sure to stand on the right side of the ferry to snap a pic of the gate and island as you approach.

Welcome to one of the "three scenic views of Japan," and arguably the most popular of the bunch. One does not visit Hiroshima and not pay a visit to Miyajima Island to see the beautiful floating gate. Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's finest sites and is easily accessible from Hiroshima city. Those with a JR Pass will take the 30-minute (express) train ride down to the ferry port, where you board the short ten minute ferry ride that will take you to Miyajima Island. From there, it's a quick 15 minute walk to the shrine itself. There are two spots that most people will want to focus on: the shrine itself, and the giant red torii gate. Depending on the rides, you may be able to avoid paying the ¥300 entry fee into the shrine if you rather not. When it is low tide, you can walk up to the red gate and marvel at its grandness and maybe even offer a small coin donation edging it into one of its pillars. If it's high tide, you can see it "floating" across the waters of the bay. Both are spectacular and a site to marvel. Absolutely make this a stop on your trip to Hiroshima. It can get extremely busy during high season (and the street food leaves much to be desired), but the experience of seeing this site is well worth the journey.

Miyajima Island is located off Hiroshima and is accessed by a short ferry ride, complete with sightings of beautiful jellyfish. The Great Torii is iconic to Japan since it is known as "the shrine floating on the sea." Like Nara, you will experience tame deer walking about the island. As we toured the area, we sat and watched locals digging for clams near the shrine. Funny how what we found so fascinating was just a normal work day to another... The shrine was gigantic and photos don't do it justice. Of course, I had seen pictures of it, but the feeling you get when you see it in person was mesmerizing. The little town is quaint, with several eateries and small shops. It was a relaxing and inviting experience!

One of the most breathtaking Shrines to see once in your life. It was unforgettable in person, you never really think twice when you see the shrine in a movie or magazine! The Itsukushima Shrine is in the middle of the water, far away from the touch of human. Even with the desired isolation one may want with the shrine, you'll meet lots of friendly travelers who are here for the same thing. Even with all the tourists and picture taking, everyone got a chance to get photos without too many people photobombing! It felt like everyone got an equal chance to get their snapshots. The Floating Torii Gate is my favorite gate, because it was easily accessible with the JR Pass, and getting on the J R Ferry! The Ferry was included with the JR Pass, so you didn't need to pay for the fare. There are gift shops and deer everywhere fyi. Again, it's best not to feed the wildlife because you will bring deer with you everywhere you go.. they are not shy!

Itsukushima Shrine is a breath taking floating gate that greets you to Mijiyama island. Words cannot describe the beauty of the floating gate. There is something truly spiritual as you take the ferry across and see the floating gate that leads you to Mijiyama island. Once after you depart the ferry, the island is an absolute spiritual adventure. Exploring the island and visiting the many, many shrines that are located there. I was surprised as to the amount of shrines the island has. I felt like kid on a playground having access to all the ancient wisdom the shrines and Gods had to offer. Also, the deers that live there. They are so cute and tame. Well, there's a sign that say's not to feed them. I think they can become agressive. If I could have stayed longer on the island, I would have. Unfortunately, I had to head back to town as I was heading to Osaka. This is a definite must that I will be back as I believe I have a strong connection to the island.

If visiting Hiroshima, you've got to stop by for a day trip to Miyajima Island, which is located south of Hiroshima and access by ferry is quite a smooth process. There are deer roaming around on the island, and it's commonplace to not only visit the beautiful temple but also grab some bites of age momiji manju. It basically is fried maple-tree leaf custard pastries. Doesn't that sound divine? Well, it is. Trust. They also have a plethora of street food stalls, too, which also have Hiroshima pork buns, mochi, and many more snacks. And since it's Japan, all the vendors are very sanitary, thank goodness. You'll experience breathtaking views of where the torii gate meets the water, and walking around this island will make you feel like you're in a Miyazaki film. Stunning at night, too, when the sunset falls. Highly recommend it if you're in Japan for more than 10 days!

The fabled 1000 Tory gates shrine. Well there are way more than that and they are in various conditions. Be prepared to walk//climb to the top and make sure you pay attention so you do not fall and injure yourself

This was one of my favorite stops in Japan. It was hot (very hot) but still, the beauty of this place was still outstanding- which must mean in milder weather it's amazing. We were captivated by the meeting of land and water and the shrine's boundary quality- as it bridges sea and land. You can really see why this island was thought to be a holy place. You will get fantastic photographs here. And if you have food in your purse, you may get a close encounter with a deer as well- though they don't eat your clothing and bite you like the ones in Nara (and I liked the dear of Miyajima much better).

"The Floating Shrine of the Sea" This shrine (jinja) has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and deservedly so. It dates back over 1400 years ago! My daughter and I came here on a Sunday around 3:30p, when the tide was slowly starting to come back in. There was already water around the Torii, so sadly we couldn't walk up to it, but it was beautiful and magnificent nonetheless (the grounds around the main shrine were still visible and people were walking around there). If I remember correctly, general admission was adult 300y, high school students 200y, and middle/elementary students 100y. There was a temizuya (or chouzuya as others say) in front of the entrance where we purified ourselves before entering the shrine. Temizuya 101: 1) Grab one of the ladles with your RIGHT hand and scoop up a full cup of water; 2) Pour just enough water over your left hand to wash (let the water fall into the drain outside of the standing water); 3) Then trade hands and pour just enough water over your right hand to wash; 4) Then hold the ladle with your right hand again, and cup some water in your left hand to put in your mouth - swish around and then spit it out (some put their hand in front of their mouth and then spit out of courtesy to others), don't put your mouth directly on the ladle; 5) Pour just enough water over your left hand again to wash; 6) Then slowly hold the ladle upright (with both hands ok) so that the remaining water pours down the handle to clean it, put the ladle back as it was (the cup upside down). NOTE: All water from washing/spitting/rinsing should fall into the drain outside of the standing water. Also, it's okay to scoop more than one cup of water if necessary. This place was bigger than I expected with shrines, a pond, a purification hall, stages, bridges, and so forth inside. It was just beautiful all around, as was everything else on this island.

Beautiful is the word that describes the shrine. It greats its welcomers when they arrive at the port and sends a beautiful farewell those that leave. The gateway is magnificent. Though the tide was low, I could imagine what it would have looked like if the tide was high. The shrine as well, as you could see the stilts it was built on. When walking through the shrine, I felt a sense of peace and awe, unlike the other shrines I visited. Beautiful in color and structure, I felt at bliss in enjoying the craftsmanship of the structure. Who would have thought I would have been so moved by a shrine? Not me.

A beautiful sight at sunset. Just expect a lot of people and be patient if you want to take a photo as this location is the sight everyone wants to see. If you plan on visiting Miyajima in 2019 or 2020 you might want to verify the Torii is not under repairs. They mentioned there would be a 18 month restoration project or something coming.

Itsukushima Shrine is amazing and beautiful. Known as the "floating gate", it is a must see to those visiting Hiroshima. The Great Torii Gate in the sea during high tide allows for some excellent photos, and during low tide, visitors also can walk up to the Torii Gate and even touch it. Directly across from the gate is the shrine area. It is ￥300/adult to enter and you can walk on the platforms above the water that are painted the typical orange-red Shinto shrine color. There is usually a line for getting pictures at the little dock that allows for a straight on portrait (or selfie) of the beautiful Torii Gate. Surrounding the area are many omiyage/souvenir shops with Torii Gate-themed items as well. Sometimes there are also boats that go out and go through the gate while it is high tide. At night time, they also shine lights on the gate before 11pm, and that is quite pretty as well. Note that during obon season (mid-August), it can get very crowded. My suggestion is to do what my family did and arrive in the afternoon, staying the night at the ryokan so as to not need to rush to the ferry back to Hiroshima.

My husband and I spent a couple of days in Hiroshima during a two week vacation in Japan and our time on Miyajima turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. It's just a short train ride from the Hiroshima station to catch the ferry to the island, and once you arrive there's plenty to see. And it's all beautiful! Of course there's the Itsukushima Shrine with the enormous red torii gate in the water, but you'll find lots more if you wander around. There are a lot of restaurants and shopping options along the main path from the Ferry Station to the Itsukushima Shrine. Don't miss the opportunity to try the Momiji Manju treats made and sold at many shops along the way. They are legendary! For lunch my husband and I strayed away from the main street and found a little mom and pop restaurant for locals on the second floor of a building near the waterfront. It is called Yosakoi, and we had the most wonderful lunch set of pork tempura and ice cold draft beer. It really hit the spot! Highly recommended!

One of the top 3 views in japan, I believe, and so worth seeing if you're making a trip to Hiroshima! The tide rises and falls, so if you hang around a bit, you can get closer to the shrine. It's absolutely spectacular. There is a market street pretty close to the shrine where you can eat yummy manju or buy souvenirs.

I've been to probably 40ish shrines in Japan and this is one is one of the must-go! It's on the water with a great view, though it's hard to find a good timing to take a picture without any bystander in your picture.

I have been to more shrines in Japan than I can count, but this one is still one of my favorites even after my second visit. The shrine itself is on stilts, and if you visit at high tide you can see the water flowing beneath. If you visit the floating Torii during low tide you can take a picture, or you can visit at high tide by taking the Light-Up Night Cruise which takes you through the Torii by boat. I highly recommend doing both, and stopping by around sunset for a beautiful photo. It is, of course, a hugely popular tourist area, so coming during the off season is always a good idea. Getting a photo of yourself next to the Torii without any tourists is an extreme challenge. The floating Torii are world famous for a very good reason! The whole area is just stunningly beautiful. I can't even put into words how important it is that you visit here, if you're in Hiroshima or even just in Japan. The first time I came it entirely made my trip, and the second time it was just as amazing.

This shrine is very famous as it become the World Heritage some years ago. When you take a ferry from Miyajimaguchi, the main land of Japan, you can see the big gate , Torii, standing in the sea. This gate is just standing, not be held by anything. And the main part of shrine is also jut stand in the sea. If there are big typhoons, the shrine buildings are damaged but the styles are never changed, it is their traditional style. There are 3 goddesses and 5 guest gods, most of them are symbols of ocean, ship and safe travel. If you have enough time, 4 hours more, I strongly recommend that you climb up the Misen, the mountain.

We were surprised to see it full during low tide. It was my third time to see the shrine and the first two times I went to see it, the shrine was partially submerged. I couldn't help gawking at how big the shrine was.

Itsukushima Shrine of Miyajima Island can be easily reached from Hiroshima by tram or train. Just get off at Miyajima-guchi Station and take the ferry. Since the ferry ride takes almost one hour and it is best to take your time at this sacred place that has become UNESCO World Heritage, you should set off early and plan a whole day trip. It is absolutely worth it! Once you have reached the island you can effortlessly walk around and enjoy a place that has been holy to Japanese from the very beginning. Tame deer will come real close so you can even touch these cute animals. Please do not feed them since they might become a little bit nasty and will start following you around. Marvel at the huge brilliant orange-red gate in the water, the floating torii. It is such a magestic sight. During low tide, you can even walk right through it. Tourist information points and maybe even your hotel staff in Hiroshima may tell you at what time there will be high and low tide. Entering and walking around Itsukushima Shrine is something special. Just the fact that it was built on stilts and painted in that energyzing shade of colour like the torii was lifting my spirits. Soak up that special atmosphere of a place that represents spiritual purity. On Miyajima, it is not allowed to kill animals or fell trees, give birth to babies or even die - people about to die always got removed from the island in time. Female travellers should especially enjoy their stay since women were not allowed to set foot here in the past. If you have enough time, you should make your way to Mount Misen, highest peak on Miyajima. You can hike or take the ropeway up to the top to enjoy spectacular views of Seto Inland Sea and its islands and maybe even of Hiroshima in the distance. Beware of monkeys that might appear and become aggressive - leave your food inside your bag ;o)!

Absolutely stunning temple that is also a UN World Heritage site. The temple and the rest of Miyajima Island are almost worth making Hiroshima part of a Japan trip. It is a blast walking around the area near the temple. There are plenty of shops and food stands - I would recommend avoiding the shops (tourist traps) and hitting up the food stands for delicious snacks and desserts. The temple grounds are beautiful with stone pillars, gorgeous ocean views, and of course the floating pillars. When the tide is down you can walk right up to them on the sand and get some great photos. After dark, it seemed like a lot of the shops close down, so plan to visit in the morning and stay at least half a day on the island. Not much else to say, just come visit this place at least once if you can!

"The Great Torii" or Floating Torii is part of this Shinto Shrine, a World Heritage site. It was well worth the journey to get here from Hiroshima by JR rail and JR ferry. Tip: your JR Rail Pass lets you on the ferry to Miyajima for free. We arrived at sunset and got photos with the floating torii at low tide when you can walk up and touch the gate itself embedded in the sea floor. The area around the shrine is kept immaculate with night evening lighting and flood lights illuminate the shrine after sundown. Wild deer roam the island like at Nara and are friendly. We did not go into the actual shrine this is a part of. Rather, we simply spent time at the floating torii. There are plenty of shops open between the shrine and the ferry station that have trinkets, coffee, street food. Amazing place to visit.

Beautiful island, beautiful shrine. I've been to Miyajima more times than I can count on my various trips to Japan, but it's still a very beautiful place. If you have some time, climb to the top of Mount Misen for some spectacular views of the surround ocean and Hiroshima.

You MUST visit Miyajima Island (and the Itsukushima Shrine) when you are in Hiroshima. Take the JR train to Miyajimaguchi Station then take the 10 minute ferry ride to the island (fare is included with your JR ticket). In addition to viewing the Great Torii, you can visit numerous shops and restaurants, visit the aquarium, take a tram to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views, see tame deer wandering through the island, and just generally enjoy the calm and tranquil atmosphere of this sacred place. Tip: Come early (it's less crowded) and make a day trip out of it.

If you visit to Kyoto or Osaka and have a day free, you should visit to Miyajima. It took 2hours from Shin- osaka with A bullet train and one way cost was around 10,000 and took a ferry to get the island( I was worry about sea sick but only 10 min ride so don't need to worry about). I should research more about this island, the island is a bigger than I thought and also has hotels. A while island is a museum. Caution: the deers are very friendly so they snatch your foods or papers and eat them. Itsukushima shrine is that one of the top three scenic spots in Japan.the shrine floats on the sea It is the island where God dwells.There is a beauty born from that belief. they have a rope way and take to the top of mountain and the view was so amazing and you must to go!

The trip to Miyajima begins with a short 45 min boat ride from Hiroshima. The island is not too large, but big enough to spend the day or even a couple of days. The Torii Gate is one of the main attractions, along with adjoining shrine. The streets are quaint, with lots of stores that sell great local products; and a lot of great restaurants. Walking through the island feels like taking a step back in time. Very few cars, and lots of Deer! A great way to send the day if you are in Hiroshima!

This island is definitely an all day or at least half day trip. Why I would suggest at least a half day is so that you get the whole experience of both the high tide, when you can see the floating torii gate, and low tide, when you can walk up to it. I didn't realize how low the low tide was going to be so I was in quite a shock when I got back from our hike to the top of mountain and found that we could walk up to the gate and even touch it. The hike to the top of the mountain is tiresome but worth it. The overlook of the island is a beautiful site to see. Luckily you can pay for a ride on the rope way part of the way up so it does part of the work for you. After that, you'll have to hike the rest. My only advice - when you've reached what you've thought is the top (a shrine/temple), you still have about 10-15 mins more to go. You will know when you've reached the top. You'll be overlooking the whole island. In addition, if you never got to visit Nara, Japan, this is a great place to get the deer experience as they have deers roaming all around you. Just be careful as they try to get into your belongings and pockets in search for food. Other than that, they're pretty friendly.

Fun shrine, the great Torii was a hit with the kids. Nice little town, with smaller crowds -- you can only get here by ferry (leaves every 20 minutes, and maybe a 10 minute ride). The ferry takes you past many oyster aquaculture beds -- try them on the grill when you get to the island, reasonably priced and delicious. Also if you like octopus, the Tako on a stick shaped like a maple leaf are fantastic. Like in many Japanese tourist oriented towns, the street food is clean, safe, delicious and a good value.

Miyajima located off the coast of Hiroshima is a must visit when visiting Cool Japan. .. I took a lot of Cool pics on Miyajima Island as you can see below. I recommend staying on Miyajima Island during low and high tide notice the pictures below.

Iconic and beautiful at any time, and if you're incredibly lucky, you might even get to see a rare performance of bugaku (traditional court dance), which occurs here only a handful of times a year. Many others have listed off the numerous reasons this has been given the UNESCO World Heritage Site stamp, so I will simply say this: when a location inspires Disney to recreate it as part of an attraction (the great torii gate in the water being replicated as part of Epcot Japan), it is well-worth going to a country and making this a priority destination. Things to consider: be very careful around the tame (but wild!) deer. They are protected by law and therefore utterly fearless, and will not hesitate to steal and eat any paper or food product in your hands. Also note that there are times you can walk out to the torii on the mudflats (and even stick pocket change in the cracks to make an offering), but at high tide it will only be accessible by boat (or, essentially, plumb not accessible). Also, be VERY mindful of the ferry time tables lest you make a potentially expensive mistake and be stranded on the island overnight. No Yelp review or photo can do this place justice, so if you have the ability, just go there and see for yourself.

One of the most beautiful places with a wonderful view of the ocean and mountain as well as the flock of deer residing there. Just beware of paper as they will literally eat it out of your bag! The island is breathtaking and it is well worth spending a day hiking the nature path and climbing the hills. You can then rest and relax in the plethora of cafés and restaurants in the Omotesando shopping area. Be sure to try the famous maple cakes and the grilled oysters! I highly recommend the custard or red bean cakes! If you want to truly experience the culture of the island be sure to walk through the more residential area by the Welfare Center and Junior School. The ferry ride to the island is also a great must-try experience especially at sunset.