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Miyajima Kayak Tour · Miyajima

Paddle out to the great torii

Miyajima Kayak Tour launches small groups from a beach on the island and paddles out to the great torii and along the shore below Itsukushima Shrine. Pick it for the view nobody on the ferry gets: the gate from water level, close enough to see the grain of its camphor-wood pillars.

Miyajima Torii Kayak Tour

About this experience

This is a new listing with one review: five stars, no written text yet. What the listing promises is two hours on the water with a guide, full instruction, a kayak, paddle and life jacket, and free digital photos taken by the guides. Groups top out at 10. You meet on a beach on Miyajima, at 782-2 Miyajimacho, by looking for the kayaks and speaking to the staff; getting to the island is up to you, on the ferry at 200 yen each way plus the 100-yen visitor tax.

The tide decides the trip. The torii stands in the bay about 200 m from the shrine's main hall, and only at high water is there enough sea around it to paddle close; at low tide the sand dries out and people walk to its base. Levels above about 250 cm give the floating look. Start times are on the booking calendar, so check a tide table for your date before you pick one, and expect the guide to adjust the route to the water.

Who shouldn't book: the listing rules out anyone under 12 or over 70 and doesn't recommend it for back problems, heart conditions or pregnancy. No pickup, no shoes provided (bring water shoes or sandals that strap on), no temple entry. At $107 it costs more per hour than anything else on this site, but it's the only tour that puts you on the water at the torii instead of looking at it from the shore. Pair it with a walking tour or a shrine visit the same day.

  • Up close to the great torii from water level, tide permitting
  • Kayak, paddle, life jacket and instruction included
  • Free digital photos from the guides
  • Small group: 10 at most
  • Two hours, easy to fit around a shrine visit

How the day runs

  1. BeforeFerry to Miyajima

    10 minutes from Miyajimaguchi, 200 yen plus the 100-yen visitor tax.

  2. MeetThe beach

    At 782-2 Miyajimacho: look for the kayaks and speak to the staff.

  3. StartBriefing and gear

    Life jackets on, paddling basics, then onto the water.

  4. On the waterThe great torii

    Paddle out to the gate in the bay, with photo stops.

  5. On the waterBelow the shrine

    Along the shore in front of Itsukushima Shrine before heading back to the beach.

A two-storey wooden temple hall on Miyajima under a blue skyThe great torii lit up at night, reflected in the dark water

What's included

Included

  • Kayak, paddle and life jacket
  • Instruction from the guide
  • Free digital photos taken by the guides
  • A group of 10 at most

Not included

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Ferry and visitor tax
  • Temple and shrine entry fees
  • Shoes or sandals: bring your own
  • Tips for the guides

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You've seen the torii from the shore and want a new angle
  • You're reasonably fit and comfortable on the water
  • You're travelling with teenagers aged 12 or over
  • Your visit falls at high tide and you want to use it

Skip it if

  • Your children are under 12
  • You have back or heart problems, or you're pregnant
  • You only book tours with a long review record: this one has a single rating
  • You only have time for the shrine and the ferry

Tips before you book

  • Check the tide table before choosing a start time. High water gives the floating look; at low tide there's little sea around the gate.
  • Bring water shoes or strap sandals and clothes that can get wet. Shoes aren't provided.
  • Leave valuables in a coin locker at the ferry terminal and take only a phone in a waterproof pouch.
  • The torii is lit from sunset to about 11 pm. Stay on after the paddle for the evening view from the shore.
  • Wind and rain can stop paddling. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you kayak to the Miyajima torii?

Yes, on this guided tour, when the tide is high enough. The guide leads the group out to the gate and along the shrine shore. At low tide the bay drains and the route changes.

Do I need kayaking experience?

No. The listing includes full instruction, and a guide stays with the group for the two hours. You need to be 12 to 70 and free of back and heart problems; it isn't recommended in pregnancy.

What should I wear for the Miyajima kayak tour?

Clothes that can get wet, a hat in summer and your own water shoes or sandals. The life jacket is provided.

How do I get to the meeting point?

Take the ferry from Miyajimaguchi (10 minutes, 200 yen each way plus the 100-yen visitor tax), then find the beach at 782-2 Miyajimacho and look for the kayaks.

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Book Torii kayak tour

Two hours paddling a sea kayak out to the great torii, with gear, instruction and photos included.

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Two hours paddling a sea kayak out to the great torii, with gear, instruction and photos included.

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