<p>Being built over water the shrine seems to float during high tide</p>

Being built over water the shrine seems to float during high tide (Photo: Nicole Bauer)

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

Japan's famous shrine is built over water

Nicole Bauer Oct 31, 2012 - 1 min read

<p>Being built over water the shrine seems to float during high tide</p>

<p>The view from the opposite site</p>

<p>The enormous torii (gate) floating at high tide</p>

<p>There are so many different views of the torii in the water that it's hard to pick a favorite one.</p>

<p>A common scene around the shrine: rikshaws and deer</p>

<p>Lovely old wooden bridge during my visit in 2012. When I visited again in 2013 it was under restoration and they might have actually replaced it completely. If you visit this place sometime, let me know how the bridge looks now! </p>

<p>At low tide you can normally walk around and through the torii. Just make sure that you don't forget the time out there, otherwise, it will be a quite wet experience!</p>

<p>The illuminated gate at night. Make sure you spend a night on the island to see this!</p>

Miyajiima is considered to be one of the "three most beautiful spots" in all of Japan and this Itsukushima Shrine is certainly playing its part. Before visiting the shrine myself, I didn't expect to find something so different from anything else I've seen so far in Japan. However, as the shrine is built over water, it literally seems to float, which can create a very beautiful, magical atmosphere.

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Nicole Bauer

Nicole Bauer @nicole.bauer

Travelling abroad to discover new places, getting to know different cultures and learning foreign languages has always been my passion. I was born and raised in Germany; however, for a few years now I've been very lucky to be able to spend my life abroad. I lived for some time in England and Ital...