Authorities enforce strict crowd control, monitor weather conditions, and have emergency services on standby. There are designated viewing areas and clear signage to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
Many visitors arrive early in the day to secure good viewing spots, bringing mats and picnics. Some locals participate in traditional rituals at Itsukushima Shrine, while others take advantage of the festive atmosphere to enjoy local food and crafts.
Visitors can take ferries from the mainland, with additional services often provided during the festival. It's recommended to use public transportation, as parking on the island is limited, and traffic can be heavy.
Apart from the main viewing area near the shrine, other popular spots include the Mount Misen observation deck, the area near the Miyajima Pier, and boats on the Seto Inland Sea, offering varied and stunning perspectives.
Traveler reviews
Miyajima is famous for the Itsukushima Shrine which is a Shinto shrine. It is known for its "floating" torii gate. The historic shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as one of the National Treasures by the Japanese government. There are lots of deer, roaming freely and very friendly. A superb place to visit. From Hiroshima, we took a tram to the Miyajima ferry terminal and took us 1 hour. Then a ferry ride for another 15 minutes.
Visited in Aug 2023 during the middle of a sweltering summer yet was one of my favourite places... back again in Feb 2026 during winter and remains one of the highlights of our 3 weeks in Japan. Gets busy, so did enjoy it more in the cooler weather.
Itsukushima, also Miyajima is a magnificent island. From the moment I arrived early morning and seeing the deers relaxing, I immediately got a smile on my face. Seeing the shrine and Torii gate from low to high tide is lovely. Walking uphill to a different shrine and enjoy the views. Great food, drinks, atmosphere and scenery, what do you want more in life. Soak it all in.
The island is famous for the Itsukushima shrine and the floating torii gate. But other than this, there is also the famous souvenir street near the shrine. You can buy souvenirs there and try local food. The place is famous for oysters farms, so grilled or raw oysters and oyster curry bread are local delicacies. Hiroshima is famous for lemons so any lemon drinks can be nice here. Miyajima is known for maple leaf shaped cakes.
We took the long, scenic and an enjoyable bus ride going to the ferry station. Bus rides in my country is not always pleasant so I relished this one. We looked for a lunch spot first before heading off Miyajima.
Next ride was a ferry boat-a short but equally enjoyable one with the mountain and sea views.
The island itself deserved half or even one whole day of exploration. There so many places to be visit, take pictures, buy souvenirs from, dine or simply sit and enjoy the nature with the deer. Upon entering the island, we were greeted by the deer gently resting along the “streets”. According to Google : “Approximately 500 deer on Miyajima are tame and socialized to human presence, though they are still wild animals and can be aggressive in seeking food. They have learned to bow for snacks, which are available for purchase, and have also been known to eat paper maps and other human items” Food crackers for the deer are available for only JPY200 and this must be the only food to be fed to them.
There’s enough space for everybody despite the numerous number of tourists in the island. There’s a recommended spot for taking a good picture with the Torii gate. The queue moves fast and it’s often the person at the back taking the pictures of the people in front-regardless of race :)
More about Miyajima Fireworks Festival from our blog
