【Little Draw】Itsukushima-jinja Shrine
A sanctuary for the spirit, floating on the tides
Itsukushima Shrine is located on Miyajima Island , near Hiroshima . It is said to have been built in 593. Although it has been rebuilt several times due to disasters, it still retains the appearance of the shrine built by Taira no Kiyomori, a famous military leader of the late Heian period (794-1185). It is one of the few shrines in Japan where wooden buildings stand on the sea.
A spiritual sanctuary
The entire island has been worshipped by many as sacred. It is said that the people of the time considered the island awe-inspiring, so they built a shrine in a place where the tide ebbed and flowed to avoid damaging the sacred “body” of the island.
Approaching the Otorii
At high tide, Itsukushima Shrine and the Otorii appear to float on the water, while at low tide the shrine's foundation and mud flats are exposed. At that time you can walk up to the Otorii gate, making for a great photo opportunity.
Mt. Misen, a World Heritage Site
In addition to its cultural and spiritual significance, Miyajima was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996 in recognition of the primeval forests of Mt. Misen. There are numerous megaliths along the mountain trail and at the summit. From the top, you can see the beauty of the many islands dotting the Seto Inland Sea when conditions are clear.
SEE ON MAP
