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Shinto Shrine at Itsukushima

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Watch the how the sun perfectly sets in the Land of the Rising Sun in Miyajima's Great Torii.

Torii is basically the entrance of a shrine. The Great Torii is believed as the boundary between the spirit and the human worlds.

The Great Torii that seems to float in the sea during high tides is actually part of Itsukushima Shrine. In low tides visitors can walk through it. Although it is said to "float," it is actually burried in the seabed and its own weight makes it immovable.

Torii is the entrance of shrines, and this half-submerged Torii is part of Itsukushima Shrine.

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Things to see

It's best if your last destination for the day is the Itsukushima Shrine so you can catch the sunset towards the Great Torii.

Before heading to the main attraction, visitors may first enter Marodo Shrine's purification hall (Haraiden) and offer a prayer on the main shrine.

There are also three round ponds within Itsukushima Shrine. Folklore says that the ponds appeared when the Shrine was built. The pond near the Marodo Shrine called Kagami-no-ike (Mirror Pond) is the most prominent inspiration for haiku and tanka (31-syllablle Japanese poems), whenever the moon is reflected on it.

During fine days, there are also stages of Bugaku (Ancient Court Dance) in Taka-Butai (High Stage).

These are just some of the preserved architectures that you will see in Itsukushima Shrine.

Travel Notes

Hiroshima is quite far from Tokyo. You may need to ride an airplane or ferry to reach the shrine island.

Access from Tokyo to Hiroshima:
By JR Shinkansen: From Tokyo Sta., about 5 hrs. by Hikari and Kodama* (¥18,050), 4 hrs. by Nozomi (¥18,550).
By Airplane: 1 hr. 30 min. from Haneda Airport to Hiroshima Airport, ¥30,800.

Access to Hiroshima Sta. (city center) from Hiroshima Airport: 45 min. by bus, ¥1,300.
By Bus: From Tokyo Sta. 11hrs. or 12hrs. by JR Bus Kanto, Chugoku JR Bus and Odakyu Bus (¥11,600) (overnight).

From Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (27 minutes). Then, take the ferry from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima Pier (10 minutes). Itsukushima Shrine is a short walk from Miyajima Pier (10 minutes).

Admission

The Shrine entrance costs 300 Yen.

Guide Map

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