Sustainable Miyajima Tour
Connect with Miyajima’s past, present, and future on a new Sustainable Miyajima Tour, a travel experience with sustainability at its core.
While we take issue with the idea that Japan as a whole has been overwhelmed by overtourism (just take a trip to the historical towns of Takehara or Mitarai on a weekday), for most of the year, the island of Miyajima is crowded with visitors, both domestic and from overseas.
How to make the most of visiting Miyajima
Despite its popularity, however, Miyajima, home to the World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine with its iconic gate that stands in the water before it, countless other shrines, temples, historic buildings, and hundreds of deer, is still very much worth a visit.
The key to getting the most out of Miyajima is to give yourself time to enjoy a mix of visiting and, yes, snapping pics of the torii gate and beanie-wearing statues at Daishoin Temple while exploring its back streets and quiet forest paths.
Even better is to have the opportunity to chat with residents and shopkeepers, some of whose families have lived on the island for generations. Learning how the traditions and rituals of the island still pervade (and sometimes restrict) the islanders’ daily lives is key to appreciating the unique nature of this spiritually significant destination.
This is, of course, easier said than done for the first or even second or third-time visitor, who finds themself swept along with the crowd, ticking off a few sites, and eating something on a stick before returning to the mainland.
A more sustainable and rewarding Miyajima experience
The Sustainable Miyajima Tour is a private group tour, led by some of Hiroshima’s most highly rated guides, that seeks to reframe what has become the standard visit to Miyajima by slowing things down, taking the backstreets, and spending time chatting with and learning from residents.
As well as escaping the crowds, this unique experience offers an opportunity to engage directly with local artisans and merchants, delve into the island’s rich cultural heritage, and gain insight into its evolving relationship with nature, tradition, and modern challenges.
Considering the environment as well as respecting local culture
To reduce waste (necessary when you consider every bit of trash has to shipped off the island by boat), guests are encouraged to bring reusable drink bottles, shopping bags, and chopsticks. A short beach clean-up provides insights into some of the island’s environmental challenges and an opportunity to go further than “leaving no trace.”
A unique adventure every time
The flexibility and depth of local connections of the Miyajima Sustainable Tour guides means that no tour will be exactly alike, evolving in tandem with the guests’ interests and serendipitous encounters along the way.
The tour doesn’t take in all of Miyajima’s main sights (Daishoin Temple is given priority over Itsukushima Shrine, for example). However, armed with knowledge learned on the tour, guests can explore further after the tour ends when the crowds tend to be easing.
The Miyajima Sustainable Tour is perfect for those who want their experience of Miyajima to go beyond snapping photos for the ‘gram and form a memorable connection with Miyajima’s past, present, and future.
Click here to learn more and book your tour.
