# Miyajima > Miyajima’s great torii stands in the sea at high tide and on wet sand at low tide, and the same spot gives two completely different shoots about six hours apart. This page as HTML: https://www.komorebis.cc/destinations/miyajima - Coordinates: 34.296, 132.3198 - Nearest airport: HIJ The island’s proper name is Itsukushima, and its shrine is built on piers over the tidal flats, so at high tide the vermilion corridors appear to float. The great torii 200 m offshore weighs some 60 tonnes and stands under its own weight, not sunk into the seabed; it reopened in late 2022 after a three-year restoration. At high tide — roughly above 250 cm on the local tide table — it rises from open water; at low tide, below about 100 cm, you can walk out to its base. We plan every Miyajima session around the tide table for your date, and the best days give a low tide in the morning and a high tide at sunset. Above the shrine, Mt Misen rises to 535 m, reached by ropeway and a final 20–30 minute walk, with views across the Seto Inland Sea. Momijidani Park, a valley of maples behind the shrine, is the island’s autumn location. Since October 2023, visitors pay a ¥100 Miyajima visitor tax with the ferry fare. Wild deer wander the waterfront, but unlike Nara, feeding them is prohibited. The island is a sacred site and we do not offer drone work here. ## When to go Cherry blossom peaks in late March to early April around the pagoda and the waterfront. The rainy season runs from early June to mid-July. Momijidani Park and the slopes of Mt Misen turn red in mid to late November, the island’s busiest weeks. Winter is mild and quiet, and oyster season (roughly November to March) fills the Omotesando shopping street with grill smoke. - **Cherry blossom**: Late March to early April - **Autumn leaves**: Mid to late November (Momijidani Park) ## Getting there JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi takes about 30 minutes, or the Hiroden tram about 70 minutes. JR and Matsudai ferries cross in about 10 minutes, every 10–15 minutes. Add the ¥100 visitor tax at the ticket machines. The shrine is a 10-minute walk from the pier. ## Kimono Rental options on the island are limited to one or two shops near the ferry pier, with small stock, so we recommend dressing in Hiroshima and riding the ferry in kimono. Low-tide walks to the torii mean wet sand and shallow pools: we bring a towel and slip-on sandals, and lift the hem rather than kneel. ## Rules on location Do not climb or lean on the torii, and do not push coins into the cracks of its pillars — a habit the shrine has asked visitors to stop since the restoration. Feeding the deer is prohibited on Miyajima, and they will snatch maps and food. Inside Itsukushima Shrine’s corridors, tripods and long setups are not allowed, and wedding shoots need prior application. Drones are banned across the island. ## Drone We do not fly drones here: the area is a densely inhabited district or the landowners forbid it. ## Photo spots ### Otorii (great torii) of Itsukushima - Coordinates: 34.2959, 132.3189 - Best time: Low tide to walk out; high tide and sunset for the floating view - Access and permits: Free; ¥100 island visitor tax on arrival The camphor-wood torii standing in the bay, 16 m tall. At low tide we shoot from beside it on the sand, with the shrine behind; at high tide from the shore and the shrine’s stone lantern line. The torii is lit after dark until about 23:00. - **All year, low tide**: The flats are walkable for about two hours either side of low water; wear shoes you can get wet. - **All year, high tide at sunset**: The sun sets behind the torii from the shrine side in winter, behind the hills in summer; we pick the angle by date. ### Itsukushima Shrine corridors - Coordinates: 34.296, 132.3199 - Best time: Opening time (about 06:30) at high tide - Access and permits: About ¥300 per adult; no tripods Vermilion corridors on piers over the water, with the torii framed between the posts of the main stage. At opening the corridors are nearly empty; by 10:00 they move as one slow queue. ### Momijidani Park - Coordinates: 34.2918, 132.3266 - Best time: Mid-morning, mid to late November - Access and permits: Free A stream valley behind the shrine, planted with maples and crossed by small vermilion bridges, on the way to the ropeway. Outside autumn it is shaded and quiet, good for summer portraits when the waterfront is hot. - **Mid–late November**: Maples peak; the valley gets direct sun only from about 10:00 to 14:00. - **July–August**: Green canopy and a few degrees cooler than the shore; the best summer session on the island. ### Mt Misen via the Miyajima Ropeway - Coordinates: 34.2794, 132.3192 - Best time: Morning, for clear views over the Inland Sea - Access and permits: Ropeway about ¥2,000 return; 20–30 minute walk to the summit Granite boulders on the summit look over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. It suits active couples and travel films; the final walk is uneven stone steps, so it is not a kimono location. ### Five-storey pagoda and Senjokaku - Coordinates: 34.2973, 132.3214 - Best time: Late afternoon - Access and permits: Pagoda exterior free; Senjokaku hall a small fee A vermilion pagoda of 1407 on a small hill above the shrine, beside the vast unfinished wooden hall of Senjokaku. The lane up from the shopping street frames the pagoda above old roofs, a calm alternative when the waterfront is crowded. ## Covered at no travel charge Miyajima pier, Itsukushima Shrine, Omotesando, Momijidani, Mt Misen, Miyajimaguchi ## Popular here - [Couple photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/couple-photoshoot.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Kimono photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/kimono-photoshoot.md) — from $260; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Pre-wedding photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/pre-wedding.md) — from $800; 15 edited photos within 7 days - [Honeymoon photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/honeymoon.md) — from $300; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Proposal photographer](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/proposal.md) — from $280; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Family photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/family-vacation.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Autumn leaves photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/autumn-leaves-photoshoot.md) — from $260; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Japan photoshoot](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/japan-photoshoot.md) — from $220; 15 edited photos within 3 days - [Travel film](https://www.komorebis.cc/services/travel-film.md) — from $430; 30–45 s film + 15 s vertical cut within 7 days ## Frequently asked questions ### Should we book for high tide or low tide? Both, if the day allows: the two looks are why people come. Spring tides around the new and full moon give the biggest range; we check the Itsukushima tide table for your date. A 30-minute session catches one tide; to get both, book the second as a separate session or add extra hours. ### Can we stay overnight on Miyajima? Yes, there are ryokan on the island, and staying lets us shoot the torii lit at night and the shrine at opening before the first ferries of day-trippers arrive. ### Can we feed the deer like in Nara? No. Feeding is prohibited on Miyajima to keep the deer wild, and there are no crackers on sale. Photograph them from a little distance and keep paper and snacks in a closed bag. --- Komorebi · https://www.komorebis.cc