Shrine floated on the water: Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is the only shrine in the world built over water, creating an illusion it is floating. It is located on Miyajima island in Hiroshima prefecture, alongside Seto Inland Sea.
Owing to the legacy of a primitive belief, the island itself has been considered sacred. Thus, to make it appear it is separate from land, the Itsukushima Shrine was built over the water.

Many people visit to see this rare structure, with graceful holy precincts and beautiful appearance.
According to travel rating site “Trip Advisor”, it is among the top 10 most popular tourist spots in Japan for foreign tourists.

瀬戸内海、広島県の宮島にある厳島神社は、世界で唯一、海に浮かぶように建てられた神社です。
厳島神社は、原始宗教のなごりで、島全体が神の島として崇められていたため、陸地では畏れ多いと海中に社が建てられました。

世にも稀な建造物にして、素晴らしい神域、その美しい佇まいをひと目見たくて、多くの人々が訪れています。
世界最大の旅行クチコミサイト「トリップアドバイザー」でも、「外国人に人気の日本の観光スポット」として毎年トップ10に入るほど国内外からの評価が高い場所です。

Tips on how to visit:

You need some preparation to be able to fully enjoy the beauty of Itsukushima Shrine.

1. If you want to experience walking in a vermilion-lacquered shrine toward the shrine in the sea, check the time of high tide.

I recommend the website of Miyajima Tourist Association posting a tide table. Please research well, and visit there during high tide.

External Link >> Miyajima Tourist Association

For your reference:
How to check a tide table on the website of Miyajima Tourist Association

External Link>> tide table http://www.miyajima.or.jp/sio/sio01.html

tide table

The estimated sea level to see the Itsukushima Shrine floated on water is more than 250 cm.
The estimated sea level that allows people to walk toward the base of O-torii (Grand Torii Gate) is less than 100 cm.

If you happen to visit when the tide is low, You’ll find the shrine sitting on bare ground instead being in the partially submerged state that most come to see.

2. Visit on weekdays, if possible.

It might be difficult for you to select the day to travel, but note that it is most crowded on weekends or consecutive holidays. Even though you are in a sacred area, you can really get tired if there is a big crowd.

訪問のコツ

1.　朱塗りの社を通って海の中の社を体感するには、満潮時間を調べること
宮島観光協会のサイトはオススメで、「年間潮汐・潮見表」が載っているので、ぜひ下調べしてから、満潮を狙って行ってください。

・嚴島神社が海に浮かんで見える潮位の目安は　２５０ｃｍ以上　です。
・大鳥居の根元まで歩いて行ける潮位の目安は　１００ｃｍ以下　です。

2.　なるべく平日に行くこと
曜日を選ぶのはなかなか難しいのですが、できるならば、平日に行くことを強くオススメします。せっかくの神域なのに、「人ごみで疲れた」というのはあまりにもったいないです。

Access

It takes about 30 minutes by train to travel from JR Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station. Then, you take a ferry from Miyajimaguchi pier to Miyajima island.

On your arrival, wild deers welcome you. Both sides of the street are lined with restaurants offering oysters, the specialty of Hiroshima. Way ahead, you will see the big vermilion-lacquered torii (gate) and the Itsukushima Shrine.

JR広島駅から30分足らずで宮島口駅に到着。そこから船で宮島へと渡ります。上陸すると、野生の鹿がお出迎え。そして、参道には広島名物牡蠣の店など飲食店が軒を連ねます。
その先に巨大な朱塗りの鳥居と厳島神社が見えてきます。

Fare

Train from JR Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi Station : 410 Yen for single fare
Ferry from Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima island: 180 Yen for single fare

JR広島駅→宮島口駅：片道410円
宮島までのフェリー：片道180円

Unbelievable style of structure

You may be surprised to learn that the Itsukushima Shrine was purposely built fragile. Can you believe that? If the structure was too rigid, it would likely have been destroyed from the forces of wind and waves during strong storms. Built using ancient construction knowledge and techniques, the shrine’s more flexible structure actually allows it to bear the elements far better than buildings made with modern methods.

Travelers never go to Hiroshima without visiting the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) and Miyajima island. Both remain extraordinary and impressive figures. We can’t help being impressed by them.

I think it is worth your time to visit Hiroshima because there are contrasting spots of beauty and destruction.

信じられない建造物

厳島神社の社、実はわざと壊れやすくつくられているとのこと。信じられませんね。
建物の骨格などあまりに強固につくってしまうと、波や風の強い力が加わった時に、建物全体が破壊される危険性があります。あえてゆるくつくって圧力を逃がしやすくし、部分的な損壊にとどめられるようにしているのだとか。

広島とえいば、広島市の原爆ドームと宮島。広島旅行の王道ですが、ともにあり得ない姿を今に残しています。とんでもない奇跡の連続に感動せずにはいられません。
美と破壊という、対照的な存在が広島にあるということだけでも、広島を訪れる価値がありますね。