5 Instagram-Worthy Power Spots in Hiroshima

Hiroshima Prefecture is home to shrines and temples of breathtaking beauty, where history and nature interweave to create scenes that will instantly elevate your Instagram feed. This article covers Itsukushima Shrine, Toyokuni Shrine (Senjokaku), Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine, Susanoo Shrine and Shiratakiyama Gohyaku Rakan.

① Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima) — The Vermilion Shrine Floating on the Sea

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Itsukushima Shrine is a true paradise for Instagram-worthy shots. At high tide, the giant torii gate and shrine pavilions appear to float on the water — every angle looks like a painting.

Best shooting time: Sunset (the magic hour) is highly recommended. The orange sky and vermilion torii merge into a dreamlike world. The autumn foliage season is especially breathtaking.

Shooting angle: Crouch low on the sandy beach to capture a water-reflection shot with the torii mirrored in the wet sand. A vertical (portrait) composition emphasizes the scale of the torii.

Access: About 10 minutes by ferry from JR Miyajima-guchi Station. Since October 2023, Hatsukaichi City has collected a "Miyajima Visitor Tax" of ¥100 per person per visit, charged together with the ferry fare.

② Toyokuni Shrine (Senjokaku) (Miyajima) — Serene Beauty of Dappled Light and the Grand Hall

The grand hall of Toyokuni Shrine on Miyajima — known as Senjokaku — is an open, airy space lined with columns and beams. Light filtering through the gaps casts shadows on the floorboards, producing naturally artistic photographs.

Best shooting time: Early morning. Soft morning light streams in, wrapping the space in a magical atmosphere.

Shooting angle: Frame a column in the foreground for a composition with depth and dimension — the kind of shot that draws instant "likes."

Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine.

③ Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine (Fukuyama City) — A Green Approach Road Wrapped in Stillness

The Bingo Province's ichinomiya, enshrined in Shinichi-cho Miyauchi, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Affectionately called "Ikkyu-san" by locals, the long approach road enveloped in greenery creates the feeling that time has stood still.

Best shooting time: A morning after rain is ideal. The stone-paved path glistens with moisture and the green foliage looks even more vibrant. May (fresh greenery) and November (autumn foliage) are especially recommended.

Shooting angle: Place the stone path diagonally across the frame to capture a fantastical shot with a strong sense of depth.

Access: From JR Fukuyama Station, take the Fukuen Line to Shinichi Station (about 40 minutes), then a taxi from in front of Shinichi Station (about 5 minutes). Parking for approximately 200 cars is available.

④ Susanoo Shrine (Fukuyama City) — A Blazing Contrast of Red and Green

Susanoo Shrine, enshrined in Tode, Shinichi-cho, Fukuyama City, is counted alongside Kibitsu Shrine as an ichinomiya of Bingo Province. The striking contrast between the vivid vermilion shrine buildings and the deep-green trees is a highlight, and the view changes with every step you climb up the stone stairway.

Best shooting time: The afternoon, when soft western sunlight hits the shrine buildings. The vermilion shines even more vividly and creates a dramatic atmosphere.

Shooting angle: Shoot from low down at the base of the stone steps looking upward, placing the shrine buildings against the sky for a powerful composition.

Access: From JR Fukuyama Station, take the Fukuen Line to Kamitode Station and walk about 3 minutes. Three free parking lots are available for worshippers.

⑤ Shiratakiyama Gohyaku Rakan (Innoshima) — A Spectacular Panorama of Stone Buddhas Across the Rocky Hillside

Located on Innoshima along the Shimanami Kaido, Shiratakiyama is a one-of-a-kind photo spot where approximately 700 stone Buddhist figures line the slopes from mid-mountain to the summit. Created in 1830 (Bunsei 13) by Kashiwabara Denroku, founder of the Ikkan sect, and his disciples, the composition of stone figures set against the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea is a spectacular view you can capture nowhere else.

Best shooting time: Early morning when mist still lingers, or at dusk. The stone figures floating in fantastical light are breathtakingly beautiful.

Shooting angle: A horizontal composition with the stone figures in the foreground and the multi-island scenery of the Seto Inland Sea in the background is recommended. A wide-angle lens dramatically enhances the sense of scale.

Access: About 10 minutes by car from "Innoshima-kita IC" on the Shimanami Kaido (about 15 minutes from "Innoshima-minami IC" coming from the Shikoku direction). From the free parking lot (approximately 20 standard cars), it is about 10 minutes on foot to the summit. Admission is free.

Every power spot in Hiroshima has its own unique face for Instagram-worthy photography. Grab your camera and head out to find your perfect shot.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening and worship hours / closing days: Itsukushima Shrine and Toyokuni Shrine (Senjokaku) have set reception hours for entering the halls and viewing. Check the official websites for the hours on the day before you visit / the precincts of Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine and Susanoo Shrine are open for worship at any time / Mount Shirataki is free to visit and open at all times
• Fees: Entering the halls of Itsukushima Shrine and viewing Senjokaku are both paid (check the fee tables on the respective official websites for the amounts). In addition, since October 2023 Hatsukaichi City's "Miyajima visitor tax" of 100 yen per person per visit has been collected together with the ferry fare / worship at Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine and Susanoo Shrine and visits to Mount Shirataki and its Five Hundred Rakan statues are free of charge
• Access: Itsukushima Shrine - about 10 minutes by ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi Station / Toyokuni Shrine (Senjokaku) - about 5 minutes on foot from Itsukushima Shrine / Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine - 400 Miyauchi, Shinichi-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture; about 40 minutes from JR Fukuyama Station to Shinichi Station on the Fukuen Line, then about 5 minutes by taxi from in front of Shinichi Station / Susanoo Shrine - 1-1 Tode, Shinichi-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, about 3 minutes on foot from Kamitode Station on the JR Fukuen Line / Mount Shirataki - about 10 minutes by car from the Innoshima-kita IC on the Shimanami Kaido (about 15 minutes from the Innoshima-minami IC if coming from Shikoku)
• Parking: Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine has about 200 spaces / Susanoo Shrine has three free car parks for worshippers (8 spaces north of the first torii gate, 16 spaces north of the shrine office, and one beside the intersection at the eastern end of the Kamiyagawa Bridge, where large buses have priority) / Mount Shirataki has a free car park with room for about 20 ordinary cars
• Etiquette for worship: Itsukushima Shrine is a group of World Heritage, National Treasure shrine buildings. Do not lean on the pillars or railings, and follow the marked route and the staff's guidance. The floorboards of Senjokaku are part of a historic building, so eating, drinking and running are strictly prohibited
• Photography rules: Refrain from photographing the interiors of the halls or prayer services in progress, and do not set up a tripod in the crowded corridors. Commercial or professional shoots and the use of drones require prior clearance from the shrine or temple and the local authority
• Safety notes: You can only walk out to the Great Torii of Itsukushima Shrine around low tide, and depending on the tide level you may not be able to approach it at all. Be sure to check the tide table. At Mount Shirataki it is about a 10-minute walk on a mountain path from the car park to the summit, and the area near the top where the stone Buddhas stand is rocky. Watch your footing and the unfenced edges, and do not push on in rain or strong winds

Note: The Kibitsu Shrine in this article is the ichinomiya (first-ranked shrine) of the former Bingo Province in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and is a different shrine from the Kibitsu Shrine in Okayama City.

(Sources: Bingo Ichinomiya Kibitsu Shrine official website "Access" / Bingo no Kuni Ichinomiya Susanoo Shrine official website "Access" / Onomichi City tourism information site "Mount Shirataki" / Hatsukaichi City official website "Miyajima Visitor Tax")