I visited Itsukushima island as a day trip from Hiroshima in November 2024. Even on an average Friday morning the local train from Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi's ferry port was packed with tourists heading to see this beautiful island. You can arrive to Miyajimaguchi from Hiroshima also by a tram but it takes much longer than the train. There are two ferries operating to the island from Miyajimaguchi, and one of them is operated by JR and is included in the JR Pass. But if you're paying with IC card it doesn't matter which one you take. There are also direct ferries from Hiroshima to Itsukushima but they're quite pricey compared to the train and tram. Already from the ferry you can spot the famous "floating" torii gate of the Itsukushima shrine that stands in the sea, although when we arrived it was low tide and the gate was on dry land. At the Itsukushima ferry port you're greeted by the famous deer ready to steal your snacks from your hands. 

The Itsukushima shrine is built on water just like the torii gate and as it was low tide we decided to visit the shrine in the afternoon during the high tide. Besides the physical shrine buildings the World Heritage Site also includes the primeval forest leading up to the Mount Misen, the highest point on the island. To get up to the mountain you can either hike or take a ropeway. We decided to go for the ropeway but getting to the ropeway station from the main town already requires some hiking. As it was late November the trees were brightly autumn coloured and the walk up to the station was stunning (pictured)! There was long queue at the station and a sign said that waiting time would be an hour. We ended up waiting only 30 minutes until we were sitting on the ropeway going up to the mountain. They advertise a lot on the site that this is the only ropeway in the world that goes over a world heritage area. I'm pretty sure there must be another cable car / ropeway in the world that goes over a core zone! Or maybe the magic word is the "ropeway". But whatever the case is, the views are amazing, especially on the second part of the ropeway, when you have views over the Hiroshima Bay and other islands. The ropeway ends at Shishiiwa Observatory from where there is still 1km hike to the top. The views are here already amazing so if you don't feel like hiking it's fine not to climb to the top. On the way to the top you pass by Reikado shrine, that holds an eternal flame inside. At the top of Mount Misen there is an observation deck and some ancient rock carvings of deities. From here you can view the south side of the island besides the amazing sea views that you have already seen many times on the way to the top. Note that the ropeway closes already at 4pm and if you miss that you need to walk down from the mountain!

Back down at the main town on the coast we visited the Itsukushima shrine. The water element gives this shrine the special feeling but otherwise the shrine didn't bring much new surprises to me at the end of my 2 week trip around Japan and after seeing plenty of shrines. After marveling the sea views and following a Shinto ceremony we exited the shrine as the sun started to set. The rays from the setting sun made the torii gate shine in bright red colour and this was perfect end to our day on the island. We headed back to Hiroshima again with the tourist-packed train.

My favourite part of visiting the island was the visit at Mount Misen and I think visiting the mountain is essential part of understanding the OUV of this site. The connection that Shintoism has with nature is really easy to understand on Itsukushima. The main shrine being on water and the small shrines along the mountain side, with natural beauty surrounding you all the time will make you understand how ancient Japanese people saw this as a holy place. And not to forget the sneaky deer following you everywhere with tasty snacks on their mind.