Classic Miyajima: From the Omotesando to Itsukushima Shrine

This is a classic Miyajima route that starts from Miyajima Pier, walks through the lively Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street, and heads toward Itsukushima Shrine. You will stop by the hill where Senjokaku Hall, commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, stands alongside a Muromachi-period Five-storied Pagoda, visit Itsukushima Shrine with its halls extending over the sea, and walk to Daigan-ji Temple right by the exit.

History and Regional Charm

According to legend, Itsukushima Shrine began in 593, the year Empress Suiko ascended the throne, when Saeki no Kuramoto, the local ruler of the island, selected the current site where the tide ebbs and flows to build the shrine pavilions. In 1168 (the third year of the Nin'an era) toward the end of the Heian period, Taira no Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine buildings, incorporating the shinden-zukuri style typical of noble residences. In 1996 (Heisei 8), it was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

For a long time on Miyajima, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples were deeply connected. Until the early Meiji period, Daigan-ji Temple served as the "fushin bugyo" (magistrate of construction and repairs) in charge of maintaining and building the temples and shrines throughout Itsukushima. With the separation of Shinto and Buddhism during the Meiji period, statues such as the Shaka Nyorai previously enshrined in Senjokaku Hall were moved to Daigan-ji Temple, and Senjokaku Hall became Hokoku-jinja Shrine, dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Walking successively from the hall and tower on the hill to the seaside shrine and the temple near the exit reveals these historical ties.

Key Highlights

• ​Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street​​: The liveliest street on the island, situated on the way from Miyajima Pier toward Itsukushima Shrine. Shops offering souvenirs and meals line the street for approximately 350 meters up to the stone torii gate, and you can enjoy freshly baked momiji manju right at the storefronts. There are also dining spots serving anago (conger eel) and oyster dishes.
• ​Hokoku-jinja Shrine​​: A grand hall affectionately known as "Senjokaku Hall." Toyotomi Hideyoshi decided to construct this daikyodo (grand sutra hall) in 1587 (Tensho 15), but work was halted due to the military campaign to the Korean Peninsula and Hideyoshi's death, leaving it preserved to this day without ceiling boards. It is designated as a national Important Cultural Property.
• ​Five-storied Pagoda​​: A vermilion tower said to have been built in 1407 (the 14th year of the Oei era) during the Muromachi period, combining Wayo (Japanese style) and Zenshuyo (Zen style) architectural forms. It is a national Important Cultural Property and stands on the hill adjacent to Senjokaku Hall.
• ​Itsukushima Shrine​​: The main shrine complex consisting of the honden (main hall), heiden (offering hall), haiden (worship hall), and haraedono (purification hall), along with the auxiliary Marodo-jinja Shrine and the East and West Corridors, are designated National Treasures. The vermilion Grand Torii Gate standing offshore was built in 1875 (Meiji 8) and is a national Important Cultural Property. Exceeding 16 meters in height, it stands by its own weight without being buried into the seabed.
• ​Daigan-ji Temple​​: A temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect. It enshrines Itsukushima Benzaiten, counted as one of Japan's Three Great Benzaiten, whose hidden Buddhist image is opened to the public only once a year on June 17. In 1866 (Keio 2) near the end of the Edo period, Katsu Kaishu and representatives of the Choshu clan are said to have held ceasefire talks at this temple.

Recommended Route and Duration

The estimated time required is about 4 hours. Take a ferry for about 10 minutes from Miyajimaguchi Pier to reach Miyajima Pier, then walk through the Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street heading toward Itsukushima Shrine. Ascending the stone stairs near the entrance of Itsukushima Shrine brings you to the hill where Hokoku-jinja Shrine and the Five-storied Pagoda stand side by side. After descending the hill, enter Itsukushima Shrine, proceed along the East Corridor to pray at the main shrine, and continue through the West Corridor toward the exit. Daigan-ji Temple is situated immediately outside the exit; all these spots are located within a few minutes' walk of each other.

The appearance of Itsukushima Shrine changes dramatically depending on the ebb and flow of the tide. At high tide, the shrine pavilions and the Grand Torii Gate appear to float on the sea, while at low tide, you can walk close to the Grand Torii Gate. As tide times vary day by day, checking a tide table in advance makes planning easier. The Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street is particularly crowded around midday. On your way back, walking along Machiya Street, which runs parallel one block closer to the mountain, allows you to enjoy a calm and tranquil townscape.

Summary of the Experience

From the bustling approach, visit the grand hall from the era of Hideyoshi and the Muromachi-period pagoda, proceed to the pavilions stretching over the sea, and conclude at the temple venerating Benzaiten. Spend a half-day strolling to experience the history of Miyajima, where Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples have long been intertwined.