Miyajima Live Camera
About the Miyajima Camera
This camera looks over Miyajima in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima. The island's formal name is Itsukushima, and the island itself has been an object of worship for centuries. Itsukushima Shrine is a World Heritage Site.
The tide is what transforms this view. Both the shrine buildings and the great torii stand out over the water, so at high tide the complex appears to float, while at low tide the sea withdraws far enough to walk out to the base of the gate. The two states look so unlike each other that which one you want determines what time you should visit.
The torii is not set into the seabed. It stands under its own weight, with main pillars of camphor wood and a hollow box lintel packed with stones to add mass. Standing in water that moves twice a day is punishing, and the gate has been rebuilt many times over its history.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: the torii and the state of the tide, the shrine over the water, ferries crossing from the mainland
- •Nearby: Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen, Miyajima pier, Miyajimaguchi
- •Note: high and low tide give completely different views — check a tide table before visiting
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Miyajima camera live?
Yes. Miyajima in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima streams live 24 hours a day.
What can I see on this camera?
The great torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the way the tide changes the scene, the shrine buildings over the water, and ferries crossing from the mainland.
What is the difference between high and low tide here?
At high tide the shrine and torii appear to float on the water. At low tide the sea withdraws far enough that you can walk out to the base of the gate.
How does the torii stand up?
It is not fixed into the seabed. It stands under its own weight, using camphor-wood main pillars and a hollow box lintel packed with stones for mass.
