厳島神社
1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Itsukushima Shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a history of 1,400 years and is the head shrine of the 500 Itsukushima Shrines across Japan and the Ichinomiya of Aki Province.
The entire island is considered sacred, so the shrine buildings extend into the sea, connected by corridors. The vermilion-lacquered structures appear to float on the sea at high tide, contrasting beautifully with the lush green of Mount Misen in the background. Known as "Aki no Miyajima," it is counted as one of Japan's Three Views.
Founded in 593, the shrine took on its current form as a sea shrine in 1168 with the support of Taira no Kiyomori. The inner shrine complex contains 37 buildings, while the outer shrine is located across the shore.
The famous grand torii gate standing 88 ken (approx. 160m) away from the shrine is 16m tall and a Ryoobu torii. It is said to be made from 500-600 year old camphor trees, with its base supported by pine piles and stones to strengthen the seabed.
To stabilize the torii's weight, 7 tons of stones are packed into the island beam. The plaque on the torii reads "Itsukushima Shrine" on the front and "Itsukishima Shrine" on the back. The tips of the kasagi (top rail) depict the sun on the east side and the moon on the west, believed to ward off evil spirits according to Feng Shui.
During low tide, visitors can walk to the base of the torii and observe crabs and hermit crabs scuttling around their feet. At night, the torii is illuminated, creating a beautiful scene as it floats against the sunset.
To stabilize the weight of the torii, 7 tons of stones are packed into the island beam.
The plaque on the torii reads "Itsukushima Shrine" on the front and "Itsukishima Shrine" on the back.
The tips of the kasagi (top rail) depict the sun on the east side and the moon on the west, believed to ward off evil spirits according to Feng Shui.
During low tide, visitors can walk to the base of the torii and observe crabs and hermit crabs scuttling around their feet.
At night, the torii is illuminated, creating a beautiful scene as it floats against the sunset.
The main hall, rebuilt by Mouri Motonari in 1571, features a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri style with a green-blue latticed door at the front.
The roof is a mix of hinoki bark shingles and tiles, and the building stands on high wooden stilts in the Shinden-zukuri style.
Shinden-zukuri is a traditional Heian period aristocratic architectural style, centered around a main building called the shinden, facing a south garden.
It is accompanied by buildings called taiya on the east and west sides, connected by corridors, with tsuridono (fishing pavilions) extending south from the taiya.
The corridors connecting the buildings are about 4 meters wide and feature a technique called mesukashi (spacing), which allows sea water to flow in and reduce pressure build-up.
Despite being exposed to numerous storms and typhoons, the shrine has never been submerged.
Itsukushima Shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a history of 1,400 years and is the head shrine of the 500 Itsukushima Shrines across Japan and the Ichinomiya of Aki Province.
The entire island is considered sacred, so the shrine buildings extend into the sea, connected by corridors. The vermilion-lacquered structures appear to float on the sea at high tide, contrasting beautifully with the lush green of Mount Misen in the background. Known as "Aki no Miyajima," it is counted as one of Japan's Three Views.
Founded in 593, it became the current sea shrine in 1168 with the assistance of Taira no Kiyomori. The inner shrine complex contains 37 buildings, while the outer shrine is located across the shore.
The Hirabutai stage in front of the main hall spans approximately 553 square meters.
Representing the garden area in Shinden-zukuri, it is entirely made of wooden planks.
Unlike other shrine buildings, the pillars here are made of red Akama stone, with a total of 239 pillars.
In 1176, a thousand-monks memorial service was held by the Heike clan, and the temporary corridor set up for this event became a permanent fixture.
The frontmost area, called Hi-no-mae, is used during the Kangen Festival in July.
Monkaku Shrine, enshrining Toyoiwamado no Kami
Monkaku Shrine, enshrining Kushi-iwamado no Kami
The Takabutai stage between the Hirabutai and Harai-den is said to be the smallest stage for Bugaku dance.
Created by Tanamori Fusaaki in 1546, it was originally portable but became fixed in the Edo period.
Itsukushima Shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a history of 1,400 years and is the head shrine of the 500 Itsukushima Shrines across Japan and the Ichinomiya of Aki Province.
The entire island is considered sacred, so the shrine buildings extend into the sea, connected by corridors. The vermilion-lacquered structures appear to float on the sea at high tide, contrasting beautifully with the lush green of Mount Misen in the background. Known as "Aki no Miyajima," it is counted as one of Japan's Three Views.
Founded in 593, the shrine was transformed into the current sea shrine with the help of Taira no Kiyomori in 1168. The inner shrine complex has 37 buildings, and across the shore, the outer shrine is situated.
Noh Stage
Tenjin Shrine
The Noh stage, unlike other shrine buildings, is made of plain wood. It is the only Noh stage in Japan that floats on the sea, built in 1680. The walls are decorated with pine trees, and it lacks the resonating jars usually placed under Noh stages. The floor is constructed to resemble a single wooden board to enhance the sound of foot stomps.
The arched bridge on the southwest side of the shrine, also known as the Imperial Messenger's Bridge, was once used by imperial messengers to enter the shrine during important ceremonies. It was built in 1557 by Mouri Motonari and Takamoto.
Located near Itsukushima Shrine, the Toyokuni Shrine, also known as "Senjokaku," is particularly striking. It enshrines Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Kato Kiyomasa and was built in 1587 as a large hall for memorial services for soldiers who died in battle. True to its name, "Senjokaku" means "hall of a thousand tatami mats," although it measures 857 tatami mats in area. Construction was halted due to Hideyoshi's death, leaving the hall unfinished without ceiling or wall panels.
The large hip-and-gable roof structure resembles a temple, but due to the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism during the Meiji period, the main deity's Shaka Nyorai statue was moved to Daiganji Temple, and the building was designated as a branch shrine of Itsukushima Shrine as Toyokuni Shrine.
Itsukushima Shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a history of 1,400 years and is the head shrine of the 500 Itsukushima Shrines across Japan and the Ichinomiya of Aki Province.
The entire island is considered sacred, so the shrine buildings extend into the sea, connected by corridors. The vermilion-lacquered structures appear to float on the sea at high tide, contrasting beautifully with the lush green of Mount Misen in the background. Known as "Aki no Miyajima," it is counted as one of Japan's Three Views.
The shrine was founded in 593, and in 1168, with the assistance of Taira no Kiyomori, it became the current sea shrine. The inner shrine complex contains 37 buildings, while the outer shrine is located across the shore.
The famous grand torii gate standing 88 ken (approx. 160m) away from the shrine is 16m tall and a Ryoobu torii. It is said to be made from 500-600 year old camphor trees, with its base supported by pine piles and stones to strengthen the seabed.
To stabilize the torii's weight, 7 tons of stones are packed into the island beam. The plaque on the torii reads "Itsukushima Shrine" on the front and "Itsukishima Shrine" on the back. The tips of the kasagi (top rail) depict the sun on the east side and the moon on the west, believed to ward off evil spirits according to Feng Shui.
During low tide, visitors can walk to the base of the torii and observe crabs and hermit crabs scuttling around their feet. At night, the torii is illuminated, creating a beautiful scene as it floats against the sunset.
The five-storied pagoda next to Senjokaku was built in 1407. It stands about 30 meters tall, with a pronounced curve at the eaves. The architecture is a blend of Zen and Japanese styles.
