Hiroshima

No visit to Hiroshima would be complete without a trip to the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island.
Established over 1,400 years ago, the shrine took on its current majestic form during the Heian period in the 12th century.

The entire structure stands over the water and is a masterpiece of traditional architecture designed for aristocratic residences.
At high tide, the shrine appears to be drifting on the surface of the sea. It is a breathtaking sight that embodies Japan’s ancient spirituality and refined sense of beauty. It is not just a historical monument, but living cultural heritage.

The vermillion Great Torii Gate rising from the water is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Miyajima.
Its striking silhouette, reflected in the shifting tides, has become one of Japan’s most celebrated images.

Remarkably, this enormous structure is not anchored to the seabed but stands solely on its own weight.
The gate serves a spiritual threshold, marking the entrance to a sacred realm. In Shinto belief, the Mt. Misen itself is part of the divine space, and the torii embodies Japan’s deep-rooted tradition of revering nature as sacred.

Visiting at high tide creates the illusion of a shrine floating on the water, while at low tide, you can walk right up to the gate, experiencing both its majesty and its subtle connection to the natural world.

Miyajima is so much more than just a sightseeing destination.
The entire island is considered sacred, with Mt. Misen at its spiritual heart. This 535-metre peak is where the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (also known as Kukai) is said to have practiced asceticism, and to this day, pilgrims continue to climb its slopes.

The island’s deer are also revered as messengers of the gods. Encountering them amidst the ancient forests provides visitors with a uniquely spiritual experience, connecting them to the island’s living traditions.

On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima became the first city in history to be struck by an atomic bomb, followed by Nagasaki on August 9.

In an instant, tens of thousands of lives were lost, and the city was reduced to ruins. Please remember just as you may have someone precious to you now, many people here once lived ordinary lives, surrounded by their loved ones, on that very day.
The Atomic Bomb Dome continues to stand as a solemn reminder of that day.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum conveys the harsh reality of the atomic bombing through personal survivors stories and everyday artifacts left behind.
There is a clock, forever stopped at the moment the bomb was dropped, with no owners anymore, and a wall where only the shadow of those who instantly vanished remain.

The day you are living now is the very day that people of the past longed for but could not see. It is our wish to pass on the preciousness and beauty of life and inportance of peace to the generations yet to come.