About Itsukushima Shrine
Have you ever heard of Itsukushima Shrine? This time, I actually visited Itsukushima Shrine and would like to introduce it to you.
Itsukushima Shrine is located on Itsukushima Island in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, in the tranquil and beautiful Seto Inland Sea.Surrounded by beautiful nature, the entire island is considered sacred and is a World Heritage Site. The shrine is believed to have been founded in the Heian period (794-1192) and has great historical value. Itsukushima Shrine is known as a symbol of Japanese religion and culture and is visited daily by many worshippers and tourists.When I visited, there were many foreign tourists. Everyone was enjoying Itsukushima Shrine with a sacred feeling.
One of the most famous features of Itsukushima Shrine is its torii gate. Itsukushima Shrine’s torii gate is known for its beautiful appearance standing in the sea, providing a spectacular view. Especially at low tide, visitors can walk to the torii, which is a spectacular sight.
Itsukushima Shrine also has many buildings and shrines, each with its own history and meaning. Among the most famous are the Ugamitama Shrine and the Juni-kura Shrine.These buildings allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of Japanese architecture.
Entrance to Itsukushima Shrine
The first step is to enter the grounds of Itsukushima Shrine through this torii gate.Many people were taking commemorative photos here.
After passing through the first torii gate, walk for a while and you will see the Itsukushima Shrine building.There is a long line in front of the entrance to the building, so get in line and pay the entrance fee.
Admission to Itsukushima Shrine is 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for elementary school students.
After passing through the gate, you will see a stone hand-washing area, so wash and cleanse your hands here first.
Finally, you will enter Itsukushima Shrine.It is a very large shrine, so take your time to walk along the route, enjoying the architecture of the building, the places of worship where various deities are enshrined, and the scenery.
Itsukushima Shrine Highlights
It was a beautiful sunny spring day and all the different parts of Itsukushima Shrine were wonderful.Here are a few highlights.
After walking for a while through the entrance mentioned earlier, the first shrine to appear is Maroudojinja Honden.This shrine is meant to entertain guests of the deity enshrined in the main hall of the shrine.
The “flat stage of the main shrine” seen from “Maroudojinja” is very mysterious.
Walk along the corridor in order.Walking along this corridor is not just a walk, but a cleansing experience, as you carefully look at the structure of the building and each piece of wood in the corridor and the view from there with a sense of “zen.
Your tired mind will be refreshed by walking down this corridor.
We came to the flat stage of the main shrine.
It is really crowded with many tourists, but not a single one of them shouted loudly.Everyone is very aware that it is a sacred place.
This is a front view of the famous Itsukushima Shrine torii (torii gate).I actually stood in line for 10-15 minutes to take this picture.There is a very long line behind this one.It may be difficult to wait in line, but it is a good idea to take a picture here to commemorate the event, because it makes you feel like something good is about to happen.
This is a front view of the main shrine of the head office.We were able to come on a very nice day with clear skies and not a cloud in sight.
This is the “Noh Stage” and “Noh Playhouse” photographed from the flat stage.
Various events are held every month.
It was low tide at this time, but at high tide the ground is no longer visible. Itsukushima Shrine at high tide will be even more mysterious.
Crossing this corridor will lead to the exit and the end of the visit.
Other locations within Itsukushima Shrine
After leaving Itsukushima Shrine, most people return to the ferry landing through the shopping street, but the way back is also beautiful and wonderful, so I will introduce it here.
You can enjoy the good old Japanese scenery, which will keep your mind healed all the time.Moreover, since you can also enjoy cherry blossoms, it is really recommended during spring time!
The five-story pagoda of Itsukushima Shrine overlapped with weeping cherry trees, making for a very beautiful sight.
Beyond this point is a shopping street, passing numerous restaurants and souvenir shops, and leading to the ferry terminal.
If you have a chance to visit Hiroshima, you should definitely visit Itsukushima Shrine.Its beauty and mysterious space will give you a deep sense of Japanese tradition and history.
“Itsukushima Shrine”
Address : 1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Access :
Car: It takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes from Hiroshima Station to Itsukushima Shrine on National Route 2.
Train: From Hiroshima Station to Itsukushima Shrine, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (about 40 minutes), then take a 10-minute ferry ride from Miyajimaguchi Station. The trip takes about 56 minutes.
Closed: Open all year round
Hours : [Spring, Summer] 6:30am-18:00pm [Fall] 6:30am-17:30 [Winter] 6:30am-17:00