Miyajima tide times and the great torii
Two numbers from the tide table decide what the torii looks like when you arrive. Here is how to read them and which tours can work with them.
The great torii of the Itsukushima Shrine stands in a tidal bay. At high water it rises out of the sea, at low water you can walk across the sand to its base. "High tide" alone does not tell you which you will get, because the height of the water changes from day to day. The level in centimetres does.
| Tide at Hiroshima Port | What you see | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| About 250 cm or more | The torii and the shrine corridors stand in the sea and appear to float | Photograph from the shore and the shrine; get close only by boat |
| Between about 100 and 250 cm | Shallow water around the torii, the flats are not yet dry | Neither the floating view nor the walk out; a good time for the town and Mount Misen |
| About 100 cm or less | Sand and mud flats around the base of the torii | Walk out to the torii and stand beneath it |
Thresholds as used by watabi.org, measured against the Hiroshima Port gauge. Tide apps that use another station can show different heights.
Where to find the tide table
The Miyajima Tourist Association publishes a tide table for the whole year, one page per month, with the times and heights of high and low water for each day: miyajima.or.jp tide table. Look for a high water of about 250 cm or more if you want the floating view, and a low water of about 100 cm or less if you want to walk out. Days when the high water stays well below 250 cm give neither view properly, even at the moment of high tide.
Which tours can plan around the tide
The coach tours and the Shinkansen packages from Osaka and Kyoto reach Miyajima at the same time every day, so the tide is luck. One guest on the H.I.S. package wrote that it was low tide when the group reached the island. Tours with more freedom are listed below.
- AIDO, the four-hour walk on Miyajima only, checks the tide table for the day of the tour.
- Private guides from Japan Guide Agency or Voyagers can change the order of the day. Mention the tide you want when you book.
- Small groups that visit Miyajima first, such as Cornwall, reach the island before Hiroshima, which helps when low or high water falls early in the day.
Seeing the torii from the water
The JR ferry from Miyajimaguchi runs some crossings close past the great torii between 9:10 and 16:10, which gives a front view of the shrine through the gate at high water. At high tide, small boats also take visitors close to the torii from the island. The ferry and visitor tax page compares the boats.
Closer still is a kayak. Miyajima Kayak runs two-hour tours from a small beach about four minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier, in groups of up to ten with a lesson for beginners. The operator uses its own thresholds: from about 180 cm of water the kayak can pass under the torii, between about 100 and 180 cm the guide decides on the day, and below about 100 cm the group walks to the torii and paddles in the water nearby. The tour reaches the torii about an hour after the start. Bookings are not changed or refunded because of the tide, so check the table before you choose a time. One guest who booked a midday slot at low water found that the session was not running.
If the tide does not suit your day
Plan the island around it instead of the other way round. At middle water, the shrine and the streets of the town work at any level, and so does the ropeway up Mount Misen, which runs from 9:00 to 16:00. Staying overnight on the island or in Hiroshima gives you an early morning and an evening as well, which often brings one of the two extremes within reach.
High tide is not a fixed height. One high water can clear 250 cm while another stays well below it, so check the height next to the time before you plan your day by it.
Guests who timed their visit to the water
Kayak guests write about patient guides and families with little paddling experience. The critical review is a reminder to check the tide table and to confirm the start time with the operator after booking.
“It was the highlight of our day in Hiroshima. Our guide was informative, kind and spoke very good English. We were participating as a family of four and our kids do not have much experience with kayaking. The guide was patient and explained many times how to manoeuvre the kayak. We felt very safe and taken care of. …”
“We had a great trip with Pete. He took us to some private beaches as well as by the famous Torii Gate on the island.”
“We enjoyed a wonderful morning on Miyajima where we had 4hrs before leaving Hiroshima. Our guide, Hendri, who lives on this lovely island, showed us all of the key sights while steering clear of the crowds. … It ranks among our best tours,, and we would strongly recommend it.”
“We had a problem - we arrived at our booked time 12.30 but no one came. There were 2 other people as well. When they contacted the provider he said there was a mistake that he wasn’t doing the 12.30 session. He also said it was no good due to it being low tide. …”
Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.
FAQ
When does the torii on Miyajima float?
From a tide level of about 250 cm, measured at Hiroshima Port. Below that the water around the torii is too shallow for the floating view.
When can I walk to the Miyajima torii?
When the tide drops to about 100 cm or less. You can then walk across the flats to the base of the torii.
Where is the official Miyajima tide table?
The Miyajima Tourist Association publishes it on miyajima.or.jp, with one page per month and the times and heights of high and low water for each day.
Can I kayak under the torii?
On the Miyajima Kayak tour, from a tide of about 180 cm the kayak can pass under it. Below about 100 cm the group walks to the torii instead.
Do day tours from Osaka arrive at high tide?
Not necessarily. Coach tours and train packages keep a fixed timetable, so the tide on your day decides what you see.
Why does my tide app show different heights?
Many apps use a nearby tide station rather than Hiroshima Port. The thresholds of about 250 and 100 cm refer to the Hiroshima Port gauge.
Find a day trip that suits your tide
Coach, small group or private, from Osaka, Kyoto or Hiroshima Station.
See the comparison