Visit Japan Web Itsukushima Shrine
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Itsukushima Shrine, located on the island of Itsukushima. It is a significant Shinto shrine and famous for its floating torii. The shrine complex has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As one of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions, the shrine is best known for its striking torii gate, the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, extensive forests, as well as picturesque ocean views. The shrine complex consists of two main buildings: the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja, along with 17 other distinct buildings and structures.
Japan has made extensive efforts to preserve the twelfth-century-style architecture of the Itsukushima Shrine throughout history. The shrine has a Shinden-zukuri style, featuring pier-like structures over the Matsushima Bay. It creates the illusion of floating on the water, separate from the island. This concept of integrating architecture and nature reflects a prevalent trend during the 16th century and the Heian period. Japanese structures harmonized with their environment, incorporating natural beauty into their design.
The most prominent and revered feature of the Itsukushima Shrine is its 15-meter-tall vermilion otorii gate. The additional leg placed in front of and behind each main pillar identifies the torii as reflecting the style of Ryōbu Shintō. The torii floats only at high tide, while at low tide, it is accessible by foot from the island. Gathering shellfish near the gate is a popular activity during low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the structure. The current torii dates back to 1875, although there has been one at that location since 1168.
