Floating over to Itsukushima Shrine

Crossing the Ocean Corridor

Itsushikima shrine was built based on the notion that the entire island is a deity to be worshiped. From JR Hiroshima Station It’s a 400 yen train ride just shy of 30 minutes to Miyajimaguchi Station, where you can take a ferry to the island for 170 yen. Wild deer greet visitors as they disembark, and just a few meters beyond are shops selling a variety of treats like maple sweets and fresh oysters. Then there is the shrine itself, which is a wonder to behold that is accentuated even more by the beautiful sea surrounding it.

Built Fragile On Purpose?

Readers may be surprised to learn that Itsukushima was built with fragile construction on purpose. If the structure were made too rigid, it would likely have been destroyed from the forces of wind and waves during strong storms. Built using ancient construction knowledge and techniques, the shrine’s more flexible construction actually allows it to bear the elements far better than buildings made with modern methods.

Try out the Special Prayer Services

Prayer services known as Kito start as low as 3000 yen, but most average around 5000 yen. The final part of the ceremony is particularly enjoyable, when the priest waves a large bundle of colored paper over the heads of everyone in attendance. It feels as if the movement of the paper is pulling out the all the impurities from each person being blessed.

Before Your Visit

In order to fully enjoy your visit, It’s recommended that you do some preliminary research on the Miyajima Tourism website, which shows tidal patterns throughout the year, photos of key points, and other useful information for visitors. If you happen to visit when the tide is low, You’ll find the shrine sitting on bare ground instead being in the partially submerged state that most come to see.

At the entrance is a statue of Kiyomori Taira, who built Itsukushima during the age of the Samurai and is now a patron saint of the shrine. There are times when the shrine is lively with activity and times when it is completely calm. Through it all, and through the strife and peace of history, the stoic shrine remains unchanged. That the beauty of this place never fades is perhaps the most inspiring aspect of a trip a Miyajima.

Miyajima’s Signature Dish

Anyone who knows Miyajima will tell you that the food you must try is the dish anagomeshi, which is grilled eel served over rice. This local specialty is available at a famous shop called Ueno, which is located just outside Miyajimaguchi Station and is a longtime favorite. Many visitors get a bento lunch box there before going to Itsukushima shrine, with some even dropping by the restaurant both before and after their visit. The anagomeshi lunch boxes are wrapped in retro Taisho and Showa era decorative paper. There are several varieties of anagomeshi, but the recommended favorite is the basic charcoal grilled eel, which has drawn fans and tourists for years.