Day Trip to Miyajima Island from Hiroshima

Miyajima Island is part of the famous '3 Most Scenic Views' of Japan, the other two being Amanohashidate, or Bridge to Heaven, a 3-kilometre-long sandbar covered with lush pine trees in Kyoto Prefecture, and Matsushima Bay, a serene bay comprising 200 small islands covered with pine trees in Miyagi Prefecture.

So what makes Miyajima special?

If you're wondering what makes this small island so special, you will have to get on a ferry across the Seto Inland Sea and see this heavenly sight for yourself.

As the ferry approaches the island, the bright 50-feet-tall vermilion-coloured Torii Gate of the Itsukushima Shrine glistening in the sun comes into view. The gate is placed on the edge of the massive water body, marking a symbolic entrance into the sacred island of Miyajima and the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, dedicated to the gods of seas and storms. The vermillion colour is believed to ward off evil spirits.

During special festivals, boats with worshippers are made to pass through the gate as if creating a transition between the material world and the realm of the sea deities.

We disembark from the ferry at the pier and start walking towards the Torii Gate through massive stone gates. It is morning, the tide is low, so we walk right up to the massive pillars of the torii gate.

As the day progresses, the water level in the sea rises, the torii gate begins to gradually get submerged in the seawater, and its pillars start sinking. At this time, the gate appears to be moving away and floating on the water, creating a surreal vision that visitors flock to watch...

About Miyajima Island

Miyajima Island lies in the Seto Inland Sea of Hiroshima Bay, only 28 kilometres from the city of Hiroshima.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the many islands of the Seto Inland Sea National Park, known for its stunning natural beauty and the famous Mount Misen.

The island is home to many beautiful temples, like the Itsukushima Shrine and Daisho-in and also offers many fun activities, like taking the ropeway to the top of Mount Misen, where you can get panoramic views of the island and the sea all around.

My Top 5 Tips for Your Visit to Miyajima Island

• Since Miyajima is a very popular tourist destination in Japan, it is well-connected by train from Hiroshima.

  The easiest way to reach Miyajima is to take the JR San'yō Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi Station, which takes about 30 minutes. From there, walk for 5 minutes to reach the Miyajima Passenger Terminal. There is a ferry every 10 to 15 minutes from the pier. The ferry ride across the sea will take about 10 minutes. If you hold a JR pass, it will be valid on the ferry as well. If you're doing a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, you'll have to take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima and follow the same route as mentioned above, but your travel time will be at least 2 to 2.5 hours one way.

  
  

• Like most tourists, we opted for a day trip to Miyajima. But if you have an extra day, then an overnighter would give you a chance to experience this serene island minus the crowds that throng it during the day.

  Also, staying overnight is a good option if you wish to experience the traditional Ryokan (Japanese inn). Many hotels also offer upscale facilities with Onsen (hot springs).

• There's a lot to see and do in Miyajima apart from the Itsukushima Shrine, of course. You can opt for the ropeway to the top of Mount Misen to get scenic views of the island of Miyajima and the Seto Inland Sea. If you're not up for the hike, then you can just follow the many beautiful walking trails to explore the island.

  If you're looking for a spiritual and calming experience, visiting the Daisho-in Temple should be at the top of your list. We opted for the Daisho-in Temple, which turned out to be another show stealer, apart from the Itsukushima Shrine, of course.

• Plan your Miyajima trip so you can see the Torii gate at both low and high tide, to get glorious views of the gate as shown in the pictures above.

  
  

• You cannot leave Miyajima without savouring Momiji Manju, a small maple-leaf-shaped cake filled with sweet red bean paste, which is super delicious and easily available at roadside kiosks. Another famous delicacy of the region is oyster tempura and deep-fried oysters...simply amazing!

  
  

  

  
  

Itsukushima Shrine

The beautiful Shinto shrine of Itsukushima on Miyajima Island was built as early as the 6th century and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is also a designated National Treasure of Japan.

Shintoism is based on the principle of nature-worship, and this shrine embodies that principle as it is built facing the sea with the mountains as the backdrop, providing the perfect balance of Shinto architecture and natural beauty.

This shrine has long, open corridors and 108 bays of vermilion-painted wooden pillars, which stand in striking contrast to the natural blue and green landscape all around. These walkways connect the main shrine with the surrounding structures, and visitors can walk around the corridors, soaking in the calm beauty of the shrine.

The shrine is open on all days of the year from 6:30 am, closing time varies from 5:00 pm on most days to 5:30 pm sometimes. Please check the timings upon arrival to plan your visit accordingly. You can buy separate tickets for the shrine and the Treasure Hall for 300 yen each or buy a combined ticket for 500 yen.

There is a lot of walking involved along the corridors of the shrine; wear comfortable shoes since the floorboards are made of wooden planks.

Along the west corridor is the Tenjin Shrine, dedicated to the god of learning. You will see big groups of school students bowing their heads in reverence here to invoke the blessings of the deity.

We spent almost 2 hours exploring this beautiful shrine. With just half a day left, we decided to visit the famous Daisho-in Temple.

Coming up next...