From ancient times, people have sensed the spiritual sanctity of Miyajima, and have revered and worshipped the island itself as goddesses. The main shrine is said to have been constructed in 593 by Saeki Kuramoto.

It is believed that the goddesses chose this island because an enclosed bay was sought for the site of the shrine.

The first record of Itsukushima Shrine in Japanese history was in the Nihon Koki (Notes on Japan), dated 881, and it was noted Itsukishima Shrine along with other famous shrines.

During the era of Taira-no-Kiyomori, it became a place of worship for the Heike clan, and around 1168, the main shrine building was constructed. As the power of the Heike clan increased, the number of worshippers at the shrine increased, the shrine itself began to become known among the members of the Imperial Court, and its grandeur became more and more magnificent.

The emperor and the Imperial Court paid visits to the shrine, and the culture of the Heian Period was amiably incorporated. Bugaku, ancient Japanese musical court dance, also began during this period. Even after the fall of the Heike clan, the culture of the Heian Period was warmly accepted by the Genji clan and the shrine continued to experience a stable and prosperous era.

The main shrine was damaged by fire in 1207 and 1223, and although restoration was done, it is believed that with each restoration, the scale of the shrine was changed. Thus, in an illustration showing the shrine which was drawn during the Koan Period (1278-1288), the layout of the shrine is different. It is recorded that the shrine was damaged by a typhoon in 1325, and from that time on, the layout became similar to its current state.

From the Kamakura Period through the age of civil wars when the political situation was unstable, the shrine's influence gradually declined. Although there was a period when it fell into ruin, when Mori Motonari won the Battle of Itsukushima in 1555, under his control the shrine regained the reverence it had before and once again its grandeur was restored. In addition, Toyotomi Hideyoshi also visited at the time of his expedition to Kyushu, and ordered that a large library for Buddhist sutras be built at Ankokuji Temple.

Itsukushima Shrine, which has been revered by many people since ancient times and venerated by the various sovereigns in power throughout history, is an example of the rare and unique architectural design, the symbol of Japanese culture and history that is alive and has continued to this day, in addition to being the representative of the Japanese spirit.