One of the decisions we agonized over was whether to see the torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island at high tide or low tide. We eventually decided to just stay overnight on the island - a fabulous choice in hindsight, since we really needed a few slow-downs built into our two-week Japan itinerary.
Most of our time was spent in the popular cities, and building in overnights at two smaller locations - Hakone and Miyajima Island - really let us have an authentic Japanese experience (honestly, probably our two favorite nights of the whole trip) while also forcing us to slow down a bit, which we really needed.
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Anyway, back to the point of this post: the gate at low tide vs. high tide.
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Jackson looking like a snack to this deer HAHA
High Tide or Low Tide: Which Should You Pick?
This really depends on whether you're staying the night or day-tripping it. If you're spending the night, it's a no-brainer - you'll get to see both. But if you're day-tripping, it'll depend on when you're there, so check the Miyajima tide times ahead of your trip and you'll know what your view will be.
Check the tide: Miyajima Tourist Association - Tide Table
We did think it was cool to see both - check out our photos below - but we don't think it's something you should spend too much time worrying about if you don't have time for both views. It's cool to walk out and under the gate, but it's also cool to see the floating torii gate at high tide, when the water rises up around Itsukushima Shrine. We thought both views were beautiful in their own way.
Fewer Crowds With an Overnight Stay
You'll get the gate pretty much to yourself - or at least with very few crowds - if you spend the night. Our photos at high tide were taken at dusk, when nearly all the other tourists had left for the day. Our low-tide photos were taken in the afternoon, during prime tourist time.
Keep in mind that there was a typhoon approaching when we visited, so crowds were probably a bit lighter than they'd normally be. You should plan for it to be crowded if you are there during the day in the popular warmer months.
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Miyajima is stunning no matter the tide!
Bottom Line
We can't make the decision for you, but hopefully our experience helps. Honestly, there's no single best time to visit Miyajima when it comes to the gate. No matter what, visiting Miyajima Island is worth it. If you get to see the gate at high tide - awesome! If you get to see it at low tide - awesome! Either way, we think you'll be happy with the view.
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