By Anna Nii, University of Shimane
Have you ever been to Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima? It is one of the world heritage sites and is a very famous place. It is also known as a sea shrine.
November seems to be the best time to see the autumn leaves in Miyajima. I wanted to see the autumn leaves based on this advice. Also, I wanted to see the Otorii of Itsukushima Shrine. So, I went on a trip there on 24th November 2018. To Itsukushima Shrine, we can go by ferry from Miyajimaguchi Station. A lot of tourists visit there every day. And it is also a beautiful place loved by many people. I felt that is a very nice place. So, I will tell you about the charm of Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.
Itsukushima Shrine was built in 593 during the Heian period. After that, in 1168, Taira no Kiyomori built the main shrine and it became the current shrine. Afterwards the Mori family and Asano family kept the shrine. The red paint is very beautiful, and the appearance conveys the atmosphere of the Heian period. The mysterious appearance was evaluated, and it was registered as a World Heritage site in 1996.
The greatest charm of Itsukushima Shrine is the Otorii which seems to float in the sea. The red Otorii is 16m high and weighs about 60 tons. The feet of the pillars are not buried in the ocean floor, but stand alone with their own weight. The main pillar was made out of a camphor tree and is about 600 years old.
Also, because the Otorii is built in a place full of tides, at low tide you can walk up to it. The reason why it was built in a place where the tide comes in and out is to catch the entire Miyajima as a god and to cut the wood, shave of the soil so as not to hurt the “the object of worship”.
It is also attractive to have different ways of enjoying by changing the atmosphere due to autumn leaves, snow, lighting up at night.
Besides, there are many shops in Miyajima, and you can eat oysters, Momiji-manju and mackerel rice bowls which are special products of Hiroshima. You can also buy souvenirs. Everything is very tasty. But there are wild deer everywhere, so please be careful about your food.
There are many other good points. Please try visiting. And please see it with your own eyes.
