Miyajima Floating Torii Kayak Tour

Nagahama beach: the starting point

The kayak tour begins on a small beach beside Nagahama Shrine, a modest seaside shrine a short walk north-east of the Miyajima ferry terminal, away from the crowds of the main street. Here your instructor welcomes the group, helps you change into quick-dry gear, and stores your belongings in waterproof bags that travel with you on the kayak.

Before launching you receive a safety briefing and a simple paddling lesson on the sand, covering how to hold the paddle, steer and keep balance. Single and tandem kayaks are used, and couples often share a tandem. Many guests ask how to get to Miyajima for an early start: take the train to Miyajimaguchi, about 30 minutes from Hiroshima Station, then the ten-minute ferry, and walk along the shore to the beach.

Paddling the Miyajima coast

Once on the water, your guide leads the group along the coast at a relaxed pace. The sea in front of Miyajima is sheltered by the mainland and usually calm, which makes it a good place to learn. You paddle past pine-covered slopes and the roofs of the town, with ferries crossing in the distance and the mountain of Misen rising above the island.

Itsukushima Shrine, its sea and the forest behind it together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the island has been regarded as sacred for centuries. Your guide shares stories about the island and its traditions as you go, and stops for photos so you can take in the view without hurrying. On clear days the islands of the Inland Sea line the horizon.

The Great Torii from the water

The highlight is the approach to the Great Torii, the vermilion gate standing in the sea in front of Itsukushima Shrine. About 16 metres tall, it is made from natural camphor trunks and stands under its own weight rather than being buried in the seabed. From the kayak you see it at water level, framed by the shrine's halls and the forested slopes behind.

At high tide, when the water is deep enough and conditions are calm, your guide may lead you right under the gate, a rare experience. At low tide the seabed is exposed, so you land nearby and walk up to the torii on foot, appreciating its full scale. The torii passage usually comes about an hour after the start.

Tides and the best time to kayak

Miyajima's scenery changes completely with the tide. Above about 250 cm the shrine and torii appear to float; from about 180 cm kayaks can usually pass under the gate; between 100 and 180 cm your guide decides on the day; and below about 100 cm the sand is exposed. Check the Miyajima tide table for your date before choosing between the 8:30, 12:30 and 15:30 departures.

Tide predictions can vary slightly with the weather, and changes or refunds are not possible because of the tide, so choose your slot carefully, or ask us and we will suggest the best time. The best time to visit Miyajima for kayaking is from late spring to early autumn, when the water is warm, while early mornings are the calmest.

Exploring Miyajima after your paddle

On the way back the group pauses at a quiet shrine on the shore beyond the main shrine for a short break and photos, then returns to the beach. Depending on tides and weather, the tour may include time to land and look around, so you finish with a good sense of the island's layout.

After changing, you can walk to Itsukushima Shrine, whose opening hours are generally from 6:30 until 17:00 to 18:00, and see the torii from the corridors you have just paddled past. Temple entrance fees are not included. Is Miyajima worth visiting for this alone? Combined with the shrine, the deer and Omotesando street, the kayak makes an unforgettable half day.