Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima)

UNESCO World Heritage

厳島神社（宮島）

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Miyajima, built where the tide comes in and goes out. It was established in 593, and Taira no Kiyomori built the present shrine in 1168 in the shinden-zukuri style of noble houses. At high tide the shrine and the 16-meter O-Torii gate seem to float on the sea; at low tide you can walk up to the gate. The shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

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Visitor information

Opening hours

Open year-round; hours change by season. March 1–October 14: 6:30–18:00. December: 6:30–17:00. Other periods differ (see official page).

Admission

Shrine: adults 300 yen, high school students 200 yen, elementary/junior high school students 100 yen.

Miyajima Visitor Tax: 100 yen per person per visit (since October 1, 2023), collected by the boat companies with your fare. Preschool children are exempt.

Getting there

From Hiroshima Station take the JR train toward Iwakuni to Miyajimaguchi (about 30 minutes), the ferry (about 10 minutes), then walk about 15 minutes from Miyajima Pier.

Two companies, JR and Matsudai, run ferries between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima Island.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

The corridors have small gaps between the floorboards; wear comfortable shoes, as high heels may get stuck.
The shrine is lit up from 30 minutes after sunset until 23:00 (may differ during festivals and events).
There is no parking at the shrine.

Tips for Muslim visitors

Near Miyajima Port there are places to pray: Yamaichi Bekkan (about 1 minute' walk from the port) has a prayer space and prayer mat, and the TOTO Miyajima Omotenashi Restroom (about 6 minutes' walk) has a multi-purpose room on the 2nd floor that can be used for prayer if you tell the staff.
On Omotesando Shopping Street you can buy halal-certified momiji-manju (packs of 10) and halal-certified shakushi-senbei at Yamadaya. Yamaichi Bekkan near the port also prepares a number of menu items with Muslim-friendly ingredients.
At low tide you can walk right up to the Great Torii; at high tide its base is under water. Check a tide table to choose your visiting time.
The shrine corridors have small gaps between the floorboards, so wear comfortable shoes; high heels may get stuck.
Shinto shrines are open to everyone. Bowing, clapping and washing at the purification basin are optional; you can simply look around.
Shrines are usually busiest at New Year and during festivals. Early morning is often the calmest time to visit.
Charms, fortune slips and votive tablets are religious items. You do not need to buy or use them.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Hiroshima and the verified places to pray nearby.
Food stalls and shops near popular sights usually do not have halal certification. Check the ingredients, or choose from the verified places on this site.