For the last 142 years the great torii of Miyajima resisted in the sea, in front of the Itsukushima shrine, despite the many typhoons and earthquakes that hit the region. The 16.6 meters tall structure weights 60 tons and stands in the same spot, although it is not buried in the seabed, standing by its own wight on the six pillars.

Its impressive resistance is due to its ingenious architecture: there are 7 tons of fist-sized stones on the top horizontal beam, and the joints between the roof and the pillars are made with specially made wedges, to absorb movement and to balance the roof.

Itsukushima Shrine Torii, Miyajima

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Itsukushima Shrine stages