Because the Miyajima Island is a sacred land, over 800 years ago, when the Itsukushima Shrine was built, people where not allowed to set foot on the island, so the shrine was built on wooden pillars, like a pier. Thus, the visitors were coming to the shrine by sea, passing by boat through the magnificent Otorii (the same way I did) and entering the shrine without touching the island’s ground.

Obviously, in time the wooden pillars needed to be replaced, but the shrine was always rebuilt, identical in every respect, so today we can enjoy the same amazing landscape as in the old times…

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Orange trains in Shinjuku