The floating torii (Shinto gate) off Miyajima Island. This torii is the sea entrance to Itsukushima Shrine and appears to float on the water. This looming vermilion gate denotes that the whole island is sacred.
Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima is built on stilts over a cove.
No one is permitted to give birth or die on Miyajima. Therefore there are no maternity wards or cemeteries on the island.
At low tide you can walk out to the torii.
On a bluff overlooking the shrine is the Goju-no-to, a five-story pagoda built in 1407.
The island is covered in virgin forest and tame deer are allowed to roam at will. The Itsukushima Shrine is best viewed at high tide when the buildings are reflected in the sea.
