Hotels in Miyajima

Miyajima: Island Shrine at High Tide

Miyajima — officially Itsukushima Island — sits 20 minutes by ferry from Hiroshima's Miyajimaguchi pier in Hiroshima Prefecture. The island draws visitors for one sight above all: the vermilion O-Torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, first erected in 1168 and rebuilt to its current form in 1875, which appears to float on the Seto Inland Sea at high tide. The shrine itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1996, and the gate stands 16 metres tall.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Most hotels and traditional ryokan cluster along the island's northwestern shore near Omotesando shopping street and the shrine approach. Sika deer roam the village freely and are considered sacred messengers. Mount Misen (535 m), reachable by ropeway from Momijidani Park, rewards hikers with views across the Seto Inland Sea. The island has no car traffic; all movement is on foot or by ferry.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Hiroshima–Miyajimaguchi by JR train (26 min), then a 10-minute JR ferry covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
• Timing: Arrive at high tide to photograph the floating torii; check local tide tables before booking day-trip timing.
• Accommodation: Book ryokan three to four months ahead for autumn foliage season (mid-November).
• Crowds: Weekday mornings before 9 a.m. offer noticeably fewer visitors at the shrine gate.