Oct 26, 2014 - 1 min read

Miyajima: God's Island

Sublime corridor floating on the sea

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

It was a cold day with sporadic rain and occasional sunshine

Overlooking the high stage and the big torii gate from the main hall

Symmetrical corridors on the wings of the main hall

Chigi and Katsuogi (Japanese typical shrine roof ornamentation) are not used on the roofs of Itsukushima Shrine. The cypress bark-thatched roofs of this shrine are famous for their beauty

One of the most beautiful architectures of Japan, the five-story pagoda with cypress bark-thatched roofs standing on the hill

The Open Stage built in the style of 'Shinden Zukuri', which is considered to be a garden of the shrine

Here, you bump into deer wherever you go as you do at Nara Park: These deer were donated by Nara Park to Miyajima

Elegant vermilion paint is strikingly beautiful

At high tide the shrine buildings look most beautiful floating in the sea, whereas during low tide you can walk to the big torii

It was a month untill the peak of autumn leaves

From any location of the main hall I could see the five-story pagoda...I wonder if it's part of the design?

Sublime shrine buildings and brilliant symmetrical corridors floating in the Seto Inland Sea - that's Miyajima.

In ancient times when Heishi (Taira Clan) was at the peak of its power, Heishi built this shrine to enshrine their guardian god and worshipped it. During high tide, the buildings appear to be floating in the sea, which is a divine sight to behold. I have visited here, Aki-no Miyajima, three times in the past, to see the brilliant vermilion big torii under the sunshine, the sunset reflection on the water which resembles the radiant road on the sea, and the mysterious shrine buildings looming in the dark. I took photos of the buildings carefully while paying great attention to the natural light. Enjoy the difference between the Itsukushima Shrine you know, and what I captured in the photos here. (Photos were taken at the end of September, 2010)

Sublime Shrine Floating in the Sea 1. Miyajima: God's Island 2. Sunset Road On The Sea 3. Where God & Humans Coexist