It is the most famous sightseeing spot on Miyajima and a World Heritage Site (cultural).
Based on its unique structure and the unbelievable idea of using the sea as its grounds, the shrine elegantly stands while the scenery changes dramatically with the rise and fall of the tide every six hours.
Especially at high tide, the vermillion-lacquered Otorii gate and the beautiful shrine buildings look as if they are floating on the blue sea.
The shrine buildings you see today were built in 1168 by Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181), the supreme ruler of Japan at that time, in the architectural style of court nobles’ houses in the Heian period (794-1185), called Shinden-zukuri.
The shrine consists of about 20 buildings connected by a vermillion-lacquered corridor that stretches about 260 meters in total length.
Almost all of the buildings are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.
Incidentally, the surface area of the main hall and shrines of Itsukushima Shrine are the largest of all shrines in Japan.
From 30 minutes after sunset to around 23:00, Itsukushima Shrine and the Otorii (Grand Gate) are lit up in orange every day, creating a fantastic atmosphere different from daytime.
