An Island where People and Gods Live Together travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Since ancient times, Miyajima, the island itself, has been worshipped as a god. This belief, passed down from generation to generation, has protected Itsukushima Shrine, many other shrines and temples as well as the island’s unique culture, and its sacred nature. Renowned for being a world cultural heritage site today, Miyajima is an island where people and gods dwell together. Located off the coast of Hiroshima, the serene beauty of the island is an essential coda to that city.

Miyajima has been considered a holy place for most of Japanese history. In 806 AD, the monk K?b? Daishi ascended Mt. Misen and established the mountain as an ascetic site for the Shingon sect of Buddhism. In the years since, the island’s Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines have maintained a close relationship. In the past, women were not allowed on the island and old people were shipped elsewhere to die, so that the ritual purity of the site would not be spoiled; in fact, the island’s real name is Itsukushima, and Miyajima is just a popular nickname meaning “Shrine Island”.
These days, strict measures are taken to ensure that the island’s sole town retains a classically Japanese Edo-era look. Deer wander freely through the streets and parks. There are still a few bits of concrete warren that have snuck in, but the seafront promenade is particularly attractive, especially later in the day when the rampaging tour groups head home and the stone lanterns are lit.

The floating torii gate

One of the landmarks on Miyajima, Japan, besides the main gate of the Itsukushima Shrine, is a five-story tall pagoda called, unimaginatively enough, “five-storied Pagoda” (In Japanese: ???, gojyuunodou). There are a number of large pagodas on the island, but this particular one is centrally located on relatively high ground, so it gets all the glory.