LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
Walk the shrine’s corridors, climb towards a hillside temple and return to the water as the tide changes. An overnight stay gives the island another rhythm.
The great torii brings people to Miyajima. Stay a little longer and the island becomes more than that single image: temple steps disappearing into trees, the smell of grilled oysters, and a shoreline that changes while you eat lunch.
Itsukushima is the island’s formal name. A day gives you time for its waterfront and lower slopes; an overnight stay makes room for the quieter hours around the busy ferry arrivals. Either way, let the tide and your interests shape the order.
Further reading
SIGHTS & STORIES
Itsukushima Shrine
The shrine’s relationship with the sea is its defining feature.
Its grand development under Taira no Kiyomori in the twelfth century brought the architecture and culture of the court to this island setting.
Walk the corridors as well as looking at the torii. At higher tide the buildings seem to float; lower water reveals another side of the setting. The changing view is a reason to return to the shoreline later in the day.
Daishō-in
Above the waterfront, this Shingon Buddhist temple offers a different way into the island’s spiritual history.
It once had close ties with Itsukushima Shrine, before the separation of Buddhism and Shinto in the nineteenth century.
Take the steps slowly and leave time for the smaller details around the halls. The hillside setting rewards a less hurried visit, with statues, corners and paths that are easy to pass on a quick circuit.
Mount Misen
The mountain gives Miyajima another scale: wooded slopes, religious sites and views across the Seto Inland Sea.
Treat it as a substantial part of your visit, with several hours set aside for the route you choose.
The ropeway brings you uphill, but its upper station is not the summit. There is further walking, with steps and changes in level. Swap it for the gentler afternoon below, or give it a second day rather than trying to fit everything in.
STAY A LITTLE LONGER
Consider this hotel for a stay beside the water, away from the shrine’s busiest streets. There is a sandy beach in front, and the hotel offers Japanese-style rooms as well as a Japanese-Western room option.
Choose the room category carefully: sea-view and non-sea-view rooms are both listed. Dinner plans offer another reason to settle in for the evening rather than rushing back to the mainland.
The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle between Miyajima Port and the property during designated morning and afternoon hours. Check the current arrangements before planning your arrival or evening out.
AT THE TABLE
Grilled oysters on the island, conger eel by the ferry and maple-shaped cakes along the way.
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Grilled oysters at a specialist in the island’s shopping streets.
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Grilled conger eel over rice at Miyajimaguchi. Stop before or after the ferry, or pick up a takeaway bento.
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Maple-shaped cakes filled with red-bean paste and other flavours. Pair one with tea.
THROUGH THE YEAR
SPRING / MARCH–EARLY APRIL
Traditional dolls appear in homes and other venues around the town during the spring exhibition.
It offers a reason to look inside as well as along the waterfront.
SUMMER / DATE VARIES
Itsukushima Shrine’s festival brings a ceremonial boat and traditional court music to the water.
If this is the focus of your trip, plan around the published programme and evening transport.
WINTER / 31 DECEMBER
This fire-prevention ritual marks the end of the year with torches near the shrine.
It is a distinctive occasion to witness, with an overnight stay worth considering for the holiday period.
SHAPE YOUR DAYS
A sample stay, with room to linger.
Take the ferry to the island, then follow the waterfront towards the shrine.
Give the shrine about an hour: walk the vermilion corridors, look out towards the torii, and notice how the buildings meet the water.
Walk inland to the temple and allow roughly an hour among its halls, statues and hillside paths.
Head back towards the shopping streets for grilled oysters at Yakigaki no Hayashi.
Walk towards the park for trees, small bridges and a different pace.
Return through the town, browsing at your own pace. Try a maple-shaped cake and settle somewhere for a drink before another look at the sea.
Return to the waterfront to see how the tide has changed the scene.
Walk to the terminal and take a suitable return sailing.
FIND YOUR WAY
KEEP EXPLORING
Hiroshima
Spend time with the city across the water: its history, gardens and food.
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Fukuoka
Continue west for market meals and evenings by the river.
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Kyoto
For another coastal journey, explore the villages of the Tango Peninsula.
Explore the guideMAKE IT YOUR JOURNEY
Build a journey around the places and experiences that interest you.