Hatsukaichi

Floating serenely in the Seto Inland Sea, Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island is a masterpiece of Shinto architecture that seems to defy gravity and logic. Its iconic vermillion ‘floating’ torii gate, standing in the water at high tide, is one of Japan’s most recognizable symbols. Originally constructed in 593 AD and rebuilt in its current form in 1168, the shrine complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed to appear as if it is floating on the water, connecting the sacred island to the mainland spiritually. The shrine’s Noh theater stage, built over the water, is the only one of its kind in Japan. Visiting at high tide offers the classic postcard view of the gate seemingly floating, while low tide allows you to walk out and stand beneath the massive camphor wood pillars of the gate itself. The island is also home to hundreds of wild deer and offers stunning hiking trails up Mount Misen.

Arching gracefully over the Nishiki River, Kintaikyo Bridge is a masterpiece of Edo-era engineering — five wooden arches woven together without a single nail, their rhythmic silhouette mirrored in the water below. Originally constructed in 1673 to connect the castle town of Iwakuni with its feudal lord’s retreat, the bridge has been lovingly reconstructed using traditional techniques after floods and time took their toll. Strolling across its cypress planks, you feel the gentle flex beneath your feet, a reminder of the craftsmanship that has endured for centuries. In spring, cherry blossoms frame the span in a cloud of pink; in autumn, maples set the gorge ablaze. The view from the riverbank, with the reconstructed Iwakuni Castle perched atop Mount Yokoyama, completes a scene that feels lifted from a ukiyo-e print.