About an hour from Hiroshima lies a hidden gem that would go missed by many if not for the beautiful mountain top of Mount Misen. Itsukushima Shrine is located on the coast of Miyajima island.
Built in 593, Itsukushima Shrine was dedicated to three deities that ensure the well-being of the imperial family, safeguarding the nation of Japan and protecting the travel of seafarers. The island, which was governed by Saeki no Kuramoto during the Daidō period (806 to 810 A.D.), was chosen by the three deities as the location of the shrine due to its enclosed bay as well as the soaring mountain tops of Mount Misen. The deities sailed around the island searching for the perfect spot until they stumbled upon the current location of the shrine.
One special fact about Itsukushima is that it is the only Shinto shrine built on stilts in order to give it the illusion that it was floating on top of the water during high tide. When the tide recedes, the famous floating O-Torii gate becomes fully exposed all the way down to the sea floor allowing visitors to walk out and take photos of the gate up close. Originally, the gate was used by pilgrims that would travel to the shrine. They would sail their ships through the gate and right up to the docks of the shrine.
Miyajima would go on to become well known as one of the top three most scenic places in all of Japan. Itsukushima Shrine would also go on to receive a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, a landmark title that is given to sites of cultural, historical or scientific significance. Some other sites include the Taj Mahal, Great Barrier Reef, Vatican City and Great Wall of China.
In order to reach the shrine, you must first take a brisk ferry ride from Miyajimaguchi Station on mainland Hiroshima to Miyajima island. Once docked, it’s about a 10 minute walk to the shrine.
To enter the shrine, you must first purchase a ticket. Prices range anywhere from 100 to 300 yen (about USD $0.70 to $2) depending on your age. Touring the shrine offers a variety of significant sites to see from the prayer hall and Noh theater stage, to the very famous and highly photogenic floating O-Torii gate.
Open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Itsukushima Shrine offers visitors ample time to explore the beauty of the shrine, as well as all of the other attractions that Miyajima island has to offer.
One thing to keep an eye out for is the wild deer that inhabit the island. While they are extremely friendly to all, they will try to eat almost anything that you have including your food, map, souvenir bags and your pants!
As the tides come and go, so do the waves of visitors, each leaving with a memory of a sacred place that seems to rise from the sea. With a deep rooted history, the shrine will continue to stand the test of time, being a place of worship and tourist site for many years to come.
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