World Heritage Torii Course
Paddle Through Time: Experience Miyajima’s Tidal Magic
Discover the magic of Miyajima from the best viewpoint—the serene waters of the Seto Inland Sea. This 90-minute kayak tour is the perfect way to experience the iconic “floating” Torii gate and Itsukushima Shrine, away from the bustling crowds. As our most popular and shortest tour, it’s designed for savvy travelers who want to create a unique memory without sacrificing precious time on their packed itinerary.
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A Serene Escape & A Unique View
While thousands of visitors crowd the streets of Miyajima, you’ll be gliding peacefully on the water. This tour offers a perspective that most travelers miss, providing the ultimate front-row seat to a World Heritage site. From your kayak, you’ll marvel at the stunning, unobstructed contrast of the vibrant red Itsukushima Shrine against the deep green backdrop of the sacred Mount Misen. It’s an opportunity for tranquility and perfect photos, far from any queues.
Experience the Magic of Miyajima's Tides
Your Miyajima experience is defined by the island’s famous tides, and this tour allows you to witness its transformations up close.
- When the tide is high (above 250cm)
You’ll see the legendary view. The entire Itsukushima Shrine complex appears to float weightlessly on the sea, creating a mystical and breathtaking panorama.
- When the tide is high enough (above 180cm)
This is your chance for the ultimate photo-op. If conditions are calm, we will guide your kayak directly under the massive vermilion Great Torii gate. Paddling through this sacred entrance from the sea is an unforgettable experience.
- When the tide is low (below 100cm)
The sea retreats to reveal the ocean floor. From your kayak, you can watch as visitors walk right up to the base of the Great Torii, giving you a fantastic sense of its immense scale from a unique water-level perspective.
Perfect for Any Itinerary
We understand your time in Japan is valuable. As our shortest tour at just 90 minutes, the “World Heritage Torii course” is designed to deliver a maximum experience with a minimum time commitment. The starting point is conveniently located near the ferry terminal, making it an easy addition to your day. Paddle with us in the morning and still have the entire afternoon to explore the island’s other treasures, or join us for a relaxing afternoon paddle after a morning of sightseeing.
Your Tour, Your Pace.
This is not a strenuous athletic challenge; it is a relaxed sightseeing experience tailored to you. We paddle close to the town, so if you fancy a break, we can sometimes stop for an ice cream or a coffee. For those who want to stretch their legs, there’s also the option to land the kayaks for a short stroll to explore historic sites like the thousand-mat pavilion, Senjokaku, or the ancient Daishoin Temple. It’s your adventure—just let your guide know what you’re in the mood for.
| When | All year |
| Duration: | 1.5-2.0 hrs |
| Start Times: | 8:30/ 12:30/ 15:30 |
| Group Size | Min 2 – Max 8 guests by one guide |
| Ages： | 5-70 yrs *a child for a tandem kayak (with an adult) |
| Weight Limit： | 250lbs for a single kayak/ 420lbs for a tandem kayak |
Tour Gallery
What You Can Expect
This tour offers the possibility to see, do and experience the following key words.
*You won’t go into Itsukushima Shrine on the tour because we want you to have more time to see it. And content is subject to season, weather and guest requirements.
#The Great Torii
#Itsukushima shrine
#An iconic mini torii in the sea
#Japanese sweets and tea
#Walking around the streets
#Daishoin temple
#Senjokaku temple
#A hillside café with a great view
#A seafood restaurant on the water
#Fish jumping on the sea
Details
| Includes： | ✔ All required equipment (kayak, paddle, lifejacket) ✔ Comprehensive instruction ✔ Free digital photos, taken by your guides ✔ Spectacular views of Miyajima ✗ Temples entrance fee ✗ Hotel pickup and drop-off ✗ Gratuities |
| Options： | ✔ Shoes and clothing cost for 500 jpy each. ✔ Hot showers are available for 500 jpy. |
| Meeting Place: | 4 minituse walk from Miyajima Pier Open in Google Maps→ |
| What to Bring： | Sandals, beverages, sunscreen. Learn More→ |
Customer Feedback
This tour takes you to the backside of Miyajima- it was basically serene empty ocean waters with amazing views and only the occasional Japanese fishermen or family going camping. This is a perfect way to skip the busy tourist areas and explore parts of the island that very few people see. We also got to swim!
Our guides Shin and Mao spoke English with us and gave us great conversation and information about Miyajima! They were so fun to talk to and gave us so many good recommendations for food/other suggestions to visit in the area. They picked us up at Miyajima pier, gave us all the equipment/footwear etc we might need, and drove us to and from the kayaking spot. They also had showers if we needed them at the end of the kayaking and took photos for us the whole time. Amazing service and wonderful staff!
Thank you so much Shin and Mao!! We loved this experience and we loved getting to meet you!!
It was a pleasant tour with not a single cloud on the day.
While rowing or ashore, I received many loving explanations of Miyajima, and I fell in love with Miyajima more than ever.
Next time I would like to participate in a longer tour.
First, we were given a simple lecture, and after going out to sea, we were able to easily ride.
The instructors were very responsive and I was able to listen to various stories and learn about the history of Hiroshima.
It took about 2 and a half hours, but it was over so quickly that I had so much fun that I wanted to do it again.
I highly recommend it to anyone going to Miyajima! !
When I was having issues to reach the spot in time Shin was incredibly helpful and even picked us up to ensure we made it on time for our kayak adventure.
The calm waters around Itsukushima are perfect for beginners, so don't hesitate to give it a try! This is a must-do experience for anyone visiting Hiroshima Prefecture.
If I come back to Miyajima I'll make sure to drop Shin a message!
One of the highlights was paddling through the Torii gates, which was a fantastic and unique experience. The guides were not only skilled at kayaking but also provided interesting insights about the island, the Shrine, the natural surroundings, and the local wildlife.
Overall, it was a superlative experience that I would highly recommend to everyone. If you're looking for an adventure that combines nature, culture, and fun, this kayak tour is an absolute must-do!
Thank you Alex and companion!
Shin was an excellent host and responded quickly to our (fairly last minute) request to go paddling. He picked us up from the port and dropped us back, providing all the necessary equipment. We kayaked to a small secluded beach that was otherwise inaccessible, where we had a swim, explored the rock formations and looked in the rock pools. We also saw the sun set on the way back.
Highly recommended!
