Temple, Gateway

The famous red floating torii gate belonging to the adjacent Shinto temple is one of the most famous landmarks in all of Japan. Itsukushima Temple dates back to the late 6th century and the entire temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [btn "Book a hotel on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-svatyne] The shrine, with its iconic red torii gate, is so famous that it has given the…

Mountain, Lookout, Temple, Cable car

At 535 metres, Mount Misen is the highest point on Itsukushima Island and a sacred place with many small shrines. The entire mountain is densely forested, but the views from the summit and many points on the hiking trails are breathtaking. [btn "Top 10 hotels on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-misen] Mount Misen is a spiritual place, but also a paradise for hiking and views.…

Temple

The historic Daisho-in temple complex is located at the foot of the sacred Mount Misen and is one of the most important temples of Shingon Buddhism. Daisho-in is situated in a picturesque wooded valley with a river, and within its grounds you will find gardens that are especially beautiful in November when the leaves on the trees turn colour. [btn "Book a hotel on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460…

Pagoda, Historic building

Senojkaku is a large wooden hall from 1587 standing on a small hill above the famous red floating gate. Just next to the Senjokaku hall stands a magnificent 5-storey pagoda. [btn "Book a hotel on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-svatyne] The hall was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three unifiers of Japan, as a place to recite Buddhist sutras in honor of fallen soldiers. …

Shopping class

In the centre of Miyajima Island's only town, stroll along the 350-metre-long Omotesando Street, full of shops, restaurants, cafes and street food eateries. [btn "Book a hotel on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-omotesando] The partially covered street is very busy and very touristy, but extremely popular for its many local souvenir shops, where you can easily spend over an hour…

Sandy beach

If you'll be on the island for more than 1 day, head to the little-visited east coast and relax on the largest local beach. Tsutsumigaura Beach is about 300 metres long and covered in fine, light sand. [btn "Top 10 hotels on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-beach] While parts of the beach may be closed off and set aside for oyster hunters, there's always plenty of space. In fact,…

Aquarium

The Miyajima Public Aquarium will entertain children and adults for at least 45 minutes. Located at the western end of Miyajimacho, it is one of the smaller aquariums in comparison to other Japanese aquariums (such as the Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka). [btn "Top 10 hotels on Miyajima Island" https://www.booking.com/region/jp/miyajima.en.html?aid=2380460;label=p-miyajima-akvarium] Inside the building, you'll mainly find a set of small and medium…