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The vermilion great torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the sea at high tide

Hiroshima, Japan

MiyajimaMIYAJIMA

Shrine buildings that float on the sea with the ebb and flow of the tide.

34°18'N 132°19'E

01IntroductionIntroduction

Shrine buildings that float on the sea with the ebb and flow of the tide.

Itsukushima (Miyajima), Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The buildings and great torii of Itsukushima Shrine, built over the sea, were inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1996. One of the Three Views of Japan.

Itsukushima ShrineGreat toriiThree Views of JapanMount MisenLow and high tide

02Key InformationKey information

Key information about Miyajima

Only information confirmed in the sources (listed at the bottom of the page) is shown. Please check the latest official information before your visit.

PrefecturePrefecture
Hiroshima
RegionRegion
Chugoku
MunicipalityMunicipality
Hatsukaichi City
CategoryScenery
IslandsSeasWorld HeritageNational parks
Protected areasProtection
  • Setonaikai National Park
  • World Cultural Heritage "Itsukushima Shinto Shrine" (1996)
  • Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty "Itsukushima"
LocationCoordinates
34°18'N 132°19'E
The great torii of Itsukushima Shrine against the setting sun

Miyajima — Hiroshima

Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

03StoryStory

The Story of
Miyajima (Itsukushima)

At high tide, the vermilion-lacquered shrine buildings and great torii appear to float on the sea. Itsukushima Shrine was built over the sea with the ebb and flow of the tide in mind.

When the tide goes out, you can walk right up to the foot of the great torii. Within a single day, the same place becomes both sea and tidal flat.

The primeval forest of Mount Misen, rising behind the island, is also included in the World Heritage area.

04GalleryGallery

4 photographs

—FilmTravel through film

Miyajima on film

All films →

[声と旅する国立公園] 瀬戸内海 | 日本の国立公園

Source: 環境省　日本の国立公園 / Watch on YouTube ↗

The films shown here are published on YouTube by official channels such as the Ministry of the Environment, local governments and tourism associations, and are presented using YouTube's embed feature. Copyright remains with each publisher. No connection is made to YouTube until you press play.

05SeasonsThrough the seasons

The four seasons of Miyajima

  1. SpringSpring

    Cherry blossoms on the island, and shrine buildings floating on the sea.

    Recommended

  2. SummerSummer

    The great torii at dusk, and the sea breeze.

    Recommended

  3. AutumnAutumn

    Autumn leaves in Momijidani reach their peak.

    Recommended

  4. WinterWinter

    The air is clear, and the island's outline is sharp even from the opposite shore.

    Recommended

06LocationLocation

34°18'N 132°19'E

Hiroshima, Hatsukaichi City (Chugoku)

OpenStreetMap ↗Google Maps ↗

An interactive map is in preparation. For now, the location is shown among all destinations.

26°N30°N34°N38°N42°NMIYAJIMA

07NearbyNearby scenic spots

Another landscape, close by.

The Seto Inland Sea and a town seen from a mountaintop

Seto Inland Sea

SETOUCHI

About 94 km (straight-line distance)

An inlet of Naoshima and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea seen from high ground

Naoshima

NAOSHIMA

About 154 km (straight-line distance)

The sandbar of Amanohashidate and the blue sea seen from above

Amanohashidate

AMANOHASHIDATE

About 298 km (straight-line distance)

08RelatedSimilar landscapes

If you love this landscape.

The islands of Matsushima Bay seen from a viewpoint

MATSUSHIMA

Matsushima

Miyagi

One of the Three Views of Japan. A bay of pine-crowned islands.

An inlet of Amami Oshima and the blue sea seen from high ground

AMAMI

Amami OshimaKagoshima · Kyushu

The main island of the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. Subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, mangroves and a sea of intricate inlets spread across the island. In 2021 it was inscribed as part of the World Natural Heritage site "Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island".

Islands / Seas / Forests

A river on Iriomote Island with mangroves reaching over the water

IRIOMOTE

Iriomote IslandOkinawa · Okinawa

Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture. The second-largest island in Okinawa Prefecture after the main island, most of it covered by subtropical forest. Vast mangrove forests spread at the river mouths, and the Iriomote cat lives here. Inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site in 2021.

Islands / Forests / Seas

09SourcesSources

Sources

10Photo CreditsPhoto credits

PhotoTitle / PhotographerSourceLicence
The vermilion great torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the sea at high tideItsukushima GateJordyMeowWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY-SA 3.0
The great torii of Itsukushima Shrine against the setting sunItsukushima-jinja torii at sunsetBernard GagnonWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY-SA 3.0
The great torii standing in a calm seaItsukushima-jinja torii, Miyajima, Japan, 20240816 1728 4081Jakub HałunWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 4.0
The buildings of Itsukushima Shrine spreading over the sea, backed by mountainsHiroshima-101 (49324364137)Rachelle HaunWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 2.0
The corridors of Itsukushima Shrine, built as if floating on the sea2011-08-06 Miyajima 01veroyamaWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 2.0
The sea and shrine buildings seen past stone lanternsItsukushima (Miyajima Hiroshima) hdsr Shrine S5 15Hyppolyte de Saint-RambertWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 4.0
All photo credits →