The floating shrine
View looking back to the mainland and the otorii.
Itsukushima Shrine is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a designated 'National Treasure' by the Japanese government. The shrine appears to float above the water when it's high tide, low tide it perches on the mudflats.
The Shrine is the main attraction on Miyajima Island, official name Itsukushima Island, just known as Miyajima, Shrine Island. The shrine was built over water as no commoners were to set foot on the island, so people had to approach by boat. They came through the gate, the otorii, and then onto the shrine itself. The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of the Shinto god of seas and storms, and there are Shinto priests and shrine maidens walking around among the tourists going about their duties.
It's a wooden shrine and so susceptible to being burnt and that's what happened, the original buildings burnt down in the 6th century. The buildings that can be seen there now, are from the mid 16th century.
Nowadays you can just walk to the shrine!
From the ferry terminal, people walk along the coastline to get to the shrine. It's the main tourist attraction on the island, so a map isn't needed to find it, just follow the crowds! Also the large orange gate floating in the water is a major indicator as to where the shrine is located!
The otorii, the giant gate, it's made of camphor wood and this one dates back to the mid 1850s.
There is an entrance fee to enter the shrine. Once through to the shrine the first thing that appears are the barrels of sake. The barrels are wrapped in a straw covering to give them some weather protection, the writing on them is the name of the sake brewery that donated the barrel. Sake barrels are found at the entrance to Shinto Shrines as they are placed there as offering to the gods.
Upon entering the shrine, you walk along the boardwalks. (And struggle with other tourists to take a photo at the best spots!)
The main altar, people come to pray at this altar (took a while to get a people free picture opportunity!) The wooden boxes at the front have slats across the top and this is where those praying places coins.
View looking back to the mainland.
The area with the most popular photo opportunity. There's a large open area infront of the main altar, perfect for tourists to stand there with their back to the otorii and have their travel companions take the perfect picture of them and the otorii!
The floating shrine, or just part of it! The pagoda behind it, isn't part of the shrine complex.
As you walk through the shrine complex, the exit is at the other end, there's no backtracking, all the traffic goes one way! After leaving the shrine my exploration of the island led me up a hill and so I could look down into the complex.
Itsukushima Shrine is a pleasant experience and there's a bit of a novelty of walking around it and seeing water down below. The Shrine itself is well preserved and there was restoration work going on while I was there, I'd imagine that a wooden structure above water does take quite a bit of maintenance!
Itsukushima Shrine is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and also a designated 'National Treasure' by the Japanese government. The shrine appears to float above the water when it's high tide, low tide it perches on the mudflats.
The Shrine is the main attraction on Miyajima Island, official name Itsukushima Island, just known as Miyajima, Shrine Island. The shrine was built over water as no commoners were to set foot on the island, so people had to approach by boat. They came through the gate, the otorii, and then onto the shrine itself. The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of the Shinto god of seas and storms, and there are Shinto priests and shrine maidens walking around among the tourists going about their duties.
It's a wooden shrine and so susceptible to being burnt and that's what happened, the original buildings burnt down in the 6th century. The buildings that can be seen there now, are from the mid 16th century.
Nowadays you can just walk to the shrine!
From the ferry terminal, people walk along the coastline to get to the shrine. It's the main tourist attraction on the island, so a map isn't needed to find it, just follow the crowds! Also the large orange gate floating in the water is a major indicator as to where the shrine is located!
The otorii, the giant gate, it's made of camphor wood and this one dates back to the mid 1850s.
There is an entrance fee to enter the shrine. Once through to the shrine the first thing that appears are the barrels of sake. The barrels are wrapped in a straw covering to give them some weather protection, the writing on them is the name of the sake brewery that donated the barrel. Sake barrels are found at the entrance to Shinto Shrines as they are placed there as offering to the gods.
The main altar, people come to pray at this altar (took a while to get a people free picture opportunity!) The wooden boxes at the front have slats across the top and this is where those praying places coins.
The area with the most popular photo opportunity. There's a large open area infront of the main altar, perfect for tourists to stand there with their back to the otorii and have their travel companions take the perfect picture of them and the otorii!
As you walk through the shrine complex, the exit is at the other end, there's no backtracking, all the traffic goes one way! After leaving the shrine my exploration of the island led me up a hill and so I could look down into the complex.
Itsukushima Shrine is a pleasant experience and there's a bit of a novelty of walking around it and seeing water down below. The Shrine itself is well preserved and there was restoration work going on while I was there, I'd imagine that a wooden structure above water does take quite a bit of maintenance!
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