The sacred island where the sea rises to meet the shrine

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the western Inland Sea of Japan, the tides dictate the landscape of Itsukushima. At low tide, the seabed is revealed; at high tide, the water surges to fill the boardwalks, creating the illusion of a floating sanctuary. This is a place where nature and Shinto tradition are inextricably linked.

Known popularly as Miyajima, or 'Shrine Island,' Itsukumu is a mountainous, sparsely populated landscape of just 30.39 square kilometres. The island is home to the famous Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Treasure. While a simple shrine may have existed on the site before 593 AD, the complex's current form owes much to the 1168 AD contributions of the warrior-courtier Taira no Kiyomori. The island's spiritual history is deeply layered, featuring Buddhist structures like Daiganji Temple and the historic Daishō-in, which served as the administrator for the Shinto shrine until the 1868 Meiji Restoration forbade the syncretism of the two faiths.

The island's architecture reflects centuries of shifting power and religious practice. In the 16th century, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi began building the Senjō-kaku, a massive structure intended as a Buddhist library for chanting sutras for fallen soldiers. Though Hideyoshi died in 1598 before its completion, the building was later converted into a Shinto shrine dedicated to him. Other notable structures include a five-storied pagoda built in 1407, which once enshrined figures like Yakushi Nyorai Zazo.

Nature plays a central role in the island's identity. Sika deer roam freely through the streets, regarded as sacred messengers of the gods in Shinto belief. The landscape is defined by the 535-metre peak of Mount Misen and vibrant seasonal shifts, from spring cherry blossoms to the crimson maple leaves of autumn. Even the local cuisine, such as the maple-leaf patterned Momiji manjū pastries, pays homage to this environment. It is a place where the preservation of forests and the rhythm of the tides remain paramount.

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