Travel Guide to Getting to Itsukushima Shrine, One of Japan’s Three Great Views | A Must-See Pilgrimage Reference

Text and photos by /Upper Right 45-Degree Angle Girl

In 1643, Japanese Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan wrote "Nihon Kokushi Kō," mentioning the Three Views of Japan: Itsukushima, Amanohashidate, and Matsushima. Since then, these three sites have gained fame worldwide, but among them, the iconic floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine has become one of Japan’s most representative attractions, drawing pilgrimages from tourists across the globe.
The former name of Miyajima was Miya Island, so take the JR train to 【Miyajimaguchi】 Station, then transfer to a ferry to reach the island.

There are three main railway lines in the San’yō region: the Sanyō Shinkansen (blue on the map above), the Iwakuni Line (Tokushima–Iwakuni) (purple on the map above), and the Sanyō Main Line (pink on the map above). The three stations to the upper right—Yamaguchi, Iwakuni, and Miyajimaguchi—are all located along the Sanyō Main Line. Although the Sanyō Shinkansen is significantly faster, considering the convenience of route flow and fewer transfers when visiting major sights, the Sanyō Main Line is more suitable for traveling around the San’yō area.
Using the JR WEST PASS San’yō Version (http://serene1102.pixnet.net/blog/post/30060705), you can ride all three of the above lines as well as the JR ferry to Itsukushima (Miyajima).

This simple diagram shows the various ways to get to Miyajima. To check JR routes and travel times, you can use the “?すばあと” app (http://serene1102.pixnet.net/blog/post/29979056), which is very convenient.

There are two types of ferries: JR and Matsudai Kisen. The prices are the same, the ferry duration is similar, and ferries run every 15 minutes, so there's always one available.

Upper right: I stayed in Iwakuni the night before and took the Sanyō Main Line directly from Iwakuni Station to 【Miyajimaguchi】 without transferring.

This cute map clearly illustrates nearby important attractions and their locations.

Upper right: I thought there would be lots of tourists here, but there were surprisingly few passengers getting off the train. What’s going on? Let’s find out...

The automatic ticket machines inside the JR station are for the JR ferry. If you have the JR WEST PASS, you can use it to ride the ferry directly; otherwise, you’ll need to buy a separate ferry ticket to get to the shrine on the island. Walk forward to the port, where you’ll find other ferry companies where you can compare prices and purchase tickets.

I visited during cherry blossom season, and the blooming status nearby can be checked on the notices—Japanese people are really thoughtful !

Looking back after exiting the station. The station building isn’t particularly remarkable...

After exiting the station, go straight ahead—you’ll need to pass through an underground passage to cross the street. Don’t try to dash across; there are barriers along the sidewalk that prevent jaywalking.

It’s actually just an underground passage. Though the road ahead is narrow, to safely manage the large number of tourists, visitors are guided through the tunnel—it’s safe and doesn’t interfere with vehicle traffic.

After exiting the underground passage, there’s a roundabout featuring a statue of General Lanling. The sacred dance performances at Itsukushima Shrine are very famous, and one of the most popular pieces originates from China—“Lanling King.”

On the left are private ferry companies, and on the right is the JR ferry. The prices seem about the same, but JR promotes that its ferry route is the closest to the great torii gate. I noticed that most people seemed to head toward the JR side.

Upper right: Since I bought the JR WEST PASS, I had no choice but to go for the closest option to the torii gate~ Just show your JR PASS to the inspector, and you’ll be allowed to board the ferry.

The boarding line is designed with shading to protect everyone from the sun and heat.

The boats look like the typical passenger ferries used to reach islands—divided into upper and lower decks.

Looking back at the dock, the JR dock has a traditional Japanese-style roof, making it much more photogenic than the dock of the private ferry next door.

The distance from Hiroshima to Itsukushima is actually not far—it’s only about a 10-minute ferry ride.

As for how close JR advertises the torii gate to be? Well, it’s not really that close, haha~ This photo has been slightly zoomed in.

Arriving at the dock very soon.

【Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima Shrine)】
http://visit-miyajima-japan.com/flash/chinese/welcome.html
Japanese webpagehttp://www.miyajima.or.jp/index.html
^?瑚廿日市市宫岛町1162-18
(0829)44-2011
Visiting Hours:
January 6 – February 28 / October 15 – November 30: 6:30–17:30
March 1 – October 14: 6:30–18:00
December 1 – December 31: 6:30–17:00
Admission Fee: Free to enter the grounds; admission to the Treasure Hall & Main Hall costs 500 yen Directions: Take the JR Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, walk straight out for 5 minutes, then take the ferry for about 10 minutes to reach the site.
Tide Schedule:http://www.miyajima.or.jp/sio/sio01.html

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