Itsukushima Shrine

History and Divine Virtue

Standing on the island of Miyajima (Itsukushima) in the Seto Inland Sea, this shrine enshrines the three Munakata goddesses — Ichikishimahime no Mikoto, Tagorihime no Mikoto, and Tagitsuhime no Mikoto — said in the Kojiki to have been born from the oath between Amaterasu Omikami and Susanoo no Mikoto. Tradition holds it was founded in the reign of Empress Suiko, and in the late Heian period the warlord Taira no Kiyomori, a devoted worshipper, established the shinden-zukuri-style shrine buildings that continue to this day. At high tide the great torii gate and the shrine buildings themselves appear to float upon the sea, a singular sight that carries forward an ancient form of worship in which the island itself is held sacred and no sanctuary is built on land — only upon the water. Ichikishimahime no Mikoto came to be identified with Benzaiten through the syncretic blending of Shinto and Buddhism, and has long been venerated as a deity of the arts and of fortune as well. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the shrine is also celebrated as one of the Three Views of Japan.

Visiting Notes

• The great torii gate and shrine buildings appear to float on the sea at high tide, their appearance shifting greatly with the ebb and flow of the tide.
• The corridors are built on stilts above the sea, with gaps in the floorboards through which the tide rises and falls beneath.
• Ichikishimahime no Mikoto is identified with Benzaiten and is venerated as a deity of the arts, music, and fortune.
• Illuminated at night, the great torii and shrine buildings glow above the water, taking on a mysterious beauty quite different from their daytime appearance.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Ichikishimahime no Mikoto, Tagorihime no Mikoto, Tagitsuhime no Mikoto

Location

広島県廿日市市宮島町 (undefined)

Access

Ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi Station or Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station to Miyajima, then a short walk.

Lineage

Benzaiten: Arts & Wealth, Dragon & Water Deities

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.