Itsukushima Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine stands on the north-eastern shore of Miyajima (Itsukushima) in Hiroshima Bay, backed by Mount Misen, 535 metres high. Since ancient times the whole island has been venerated as a deity; this is the head shrine of around five hundred Itsukushima shrines nationwide, and one of the Three Views of Japan. In the late Heian period, Taira no Kiyomori, governor of Aki, rebuilt it into the great expanse of buildings that stand over the sea today—at high tide the halls seem to float on the water, while at low tide the tidal flats are exposed. Six structures, including the Main Hall, the Hall of Worship and the corridors, are designated National Treasures, with fourteen more as Important Cultural Properties, and the shrine also preserves a great trove of treasure-grade craftworks such as the Heike Nokyo sutras dedicated by the Taira clan. In 1996 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site under the name 'Itsukushima Shinto Shrine.' Step onto the corridor that bends along the shore, and from the Marodo Shrine to the Noh stage set in the sea, each small hall has its own origins, worth examining one by one.
Japan · 29 The overlooked corners inside
The overlooked corners inside
West Corridor, Itsukushima Shrine
The West Corridor is one of Itsukushima Shrine's Important Cultural Properties. Rather than enclosing a square precinct in the manner of a conventional shrine, it works as a passage linking the buildings out over the water to the shore. Beginning on land, it winds across the sea, skirts the Noh stage, and after four right-angle turns connects to the western side of the main shrine's Haraiden (purification hall). Its design captures the shrine's defining trait: architecture built to coexist with the sea.
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
East Corridor, Itsukushima Shrine
Together with the West Corridor, the East Corridor extends from both sides of the Haraiden (purification hall) to create Itsukushima Shrine's unmistakable profile. Designated an Important Cultural Property, most of it stands directly over the water, so at high tide the whole shrine seems to float on the sea. Despite sitting offshore, it uses no special engineering: foundation stones and wooden piles are fixed to the shallow seabed exactly as in shore-based buildings, and the plank floor is laid on top.
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Itsukushima Shrine Honden, Heihaku-den, and Haiden (Main Hall Complex)
The honden (main hall), heihaku-den (offering hall), and haiden (worship hall) form one of the six National Treasure buildings at Itsukushima Shrine — three halls joined end-to-end into a single structure. The sanctuary runs from the innermost honden through the connecting heihaku-den to the haiden at the front, flanked by a玉垣 balustrade (including the Fumei-mon gate) and interior bridges on each side. Every year on the 17th day of the sixth lunar month, the Kangen-sai festival sets out from the main shrine on decorated boats, continuing the court-music ceremonies that Taira no Kiyomori introduced in the late Heian period (12th century).
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Marodo-jinja (Client Shrine) — Main Hall, Heihaku-den, and Haiden
Marodo-jinja is the largest auxiliary shrine (massha) in the Itsukushima complex — walk to the far end of the east corridor and you'll find it, facing west. It is also the only surviving Kamakura-period (1185–1333) building in the entire shrine group, constructed in 1241. Five male deities are enshrined here: Ame-no-oshihomimi-no-mikoto, Ame-no-hohi-no-mikoto, Ame-no-hitsukunine-no-mikoto, Ikutsuhikone-no-mikoto, and Kumano-kusubi-no-mikoto — gods said to have been born from a pledge between Amaterasu and Susanoo, the other half of the same mythological scene that produced the three goddesses in the main shrine.
Sources: wikidata.org · miyajima.or.jp · grokipedia.com
Marodo-jinja (Client Shrine) — Haraiden (Purification Hall)
The haraiden of Marodo-jinja is one of the six National Treasure buildings at Itsukushima Shrine and belongs to the Marodo-jinja group of halls. A haraiden is the place of ritual purification before entering the inner precincts — the outermost building in the complex, closest to the sea. The entire shrine complex, including this hall, was inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Itsukushima Shrine" in 1996. The shrine is located at 1-1 Miyajimachō, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture; visiting hours are 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Main Shrine Haraiden (Purification Hall)
The main shrine's haraiden is one of the six National Treasure buildings at Itsukushima Sh… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Great Torii Gate (Ōtorii)
The Great Torii stands in the sea roughly 196 metres northwest of the main shrine, and is… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Itsukushima Shrine Treasure House (Hōmotsukan)
The Treasure House is a registered tangible cultural property displaying the shrine's coll… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Itsukushima Shrine Noh Stage
An Important Cultural Property, the Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine was built in 1680 and… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Araebisu Shrine (Araebisu-jinja)
Araebisu Shrine stands at the foot of Tōnōoka hill on the eastern shore of the bay, sharin… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Toyokuni Shrine (千畳閣 / Senjōkaku)
Toyokuni Shrine — known locally as Senjōkaku, "Hall of a Thousand Tatami Mats" — is the la… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: setouchi.travel · japanjourneys.jp · visit-miyajima-japan.com
Senjokaku
Originally called the Daikyodo, Senjokaku was vowed into being by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Great Torii Tidal Flats Viewpoint
Step down from the stairs near the shrine's entrance or exit and onto the tidal flats expo… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · miyajima.or.jp · ja.wikipedia.org
Right Music Pavilion (Migi-gakubo)
The Right Music Pavilion stands immediately beside the Hira-butai (flat stage) on the seaw… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Left Kado-marudo Shrine (Hidari Kado-marudo-jinja)
The Left Kado-marudo Shrine enshrines Toyoiwa-mado-no-kami, and stands directly to the lef… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Right Kado-marudo Shrine (Migi Kado-marudo-jinja)
The Right Kado-marudo Shrine enshrines Kushiiwa-mado-no-kami, and stands to the right of t… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Tenjin Shrine (Tenjin-jinja)
Tenjin Shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the deified scholar-statesman of the Heian… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Ōkuni Shrine (Ōkuni-jinja)
Ōkuni Shrine stands immediately beside the western corridor of Itsukushima Shrine and ensh… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: miyajima.or.jp · olivierrobert.net
Five-Story Pagoda (Gojūnoto)
The five-story pagoda stands on Tōnōoka hill on the eastern bay shore, next to Senjōkaku (… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Left Music Pavilion (Hidari-gakubo)
The Left Music Pavilion stands immediately to the left (seaward) side of the Hira-butai, a… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Marodo-jinja Complex (Full Hall Group)
The Marodo-jinja complex and the main shrine halls together form the core of Itsukushima's… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Main Shrine Honden (Inner Sanctuary)
The honden is the sacred heart of Itsukushima Shrine, enshrining the three Munakata goddes… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: online.bunka.go.jp · en.wikipedia.org · miyajima.or.jp
Marodo-jinja Honden (Main Hall of the Client Shrine)
The Marodo-jinja honden is one of Itsukushima's paired National Treasure structures. The h… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Noh Stage
The Noh stage at Itsukushima Shrine stands in the sea west of the main shrine's offering h… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
High Stage (Taka-butai) — Bugaku Dance Platform
The Taka-butai is the square raised stage directly in front of the main haiden, built for… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: mlit.go.jp · miyajima.or.jp · gethiroshima.com
Jigōzen Shrine (Outer Shrine of Itsukushima)
Jigōzen Shrine is the outer shrine (geku) of Itsukushima, enshrined on the opposite shore… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Miyama Shrine (Inner Sanctuary / Okumiya on Mt. Misen)
Miyama Shrine is the inner sanctuary (okumiya) of Itsukushima, enshrined at the summit of… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Ōmoto Shrine (Ōmoto-jinja)
Ōmoto Shrine stands at Ōmotoura on the western side of Miyajima, a subsidiary shrine (mass… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
Sannō Shrine (Sannō-jinja / Three Kings Shrine)
Sannō Shrine is enshrined in the Ōmachi district of Miyajima-chō. Its deity was invited fr… 🔒 Unlock the full guide
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org
FAQ
What overlooked corners are worth seeing inside Itsukushima Shrine?
West Corridor, Itsukushima Shrine, East Corridor, Itsukushima Shrine, Itsukushima Shrine Honden, Heihaku-den, and Haiden (Main Hall Complex) and more — 29 spots in all, each with sources and a guide in your language to read or listen to on the spot.
Is the Itsukushima Shrine guide free?
The first 5 spots are free to read; the other 24 unlock with a one-time purchase (not a subscription).