Itsukushima Shrine

According to the shrine's own account, Saeki no Kuramoto, who governed the island, built the shrine on its present site in 593, the year Empress Suiko took the throne. The national cultural property commentary, however, describes the founding date as unclear. The deities are three goddesses, Ichikishimahime, Tagorihime, and Tagitsuhime. Taira no Kiyomori, who became governor of Aki, revered the shrine deeply and in 1168 (Nin'an 3) rebuilt it in a style drawing on shinden-zukuri palace architecture. As his rank rose, more members of the imperial family and nobility came to worship, with the Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa visiting in 1174 (Joan 4) and the Retired Emperor Takakura in 1180 (Jisho 4).

The shrine burned in 1207 and 1223, and building work in 1241 (Ninji 2) largely established the present complex. Six buildings are designated National Treasures: the honden, heiden, and haiden of the main shrine; the harae-den (purification hall) of the main shrine; the honden, heiden, and haiden of the Marodo-jinja subsidiary shrine; the harae-den of Marodo-jinja; the east corridor; and the west corridor. The heiden, haiden, and harae-den of the main shrine and the Marodo-jinja halls are dated to 1241, while the honden of the main shrine underwent major repairs in 1571 (Genki 2). The main honden is a single-story building with a double-flowing roof (ryonagare-zukuri) in cypress bark, eight bays across the front, nine across the back, and four deep. The east corridor dates from 1558 to 1615 and the west corridor from 1563 to 1602, and both are classed as Momoyama period. That buildings of different dates stand together as one complex is what to look for here. The harae-den are hip-and-gable halls entered on the gable side, with the rear connected by roof. The main shrine and Marodo-jinja each have one, so they are worth comparing.

The vermilion corridors link the main shrine and Marodo-jinja and extend 107 bays in all. The National Treasure east corridor bends along 45 bays, and the west corridor likewise along 62. Besides the corridors and halls, the great torii standing in the sea is central to the scene. The torii is not a National Treasure but an Important Cultural Property; the present one was rebuilt in 1875 (Meiji 8) and is said to be the ninth since the Heian period. At 16.6 meters high, it is said to be the largest wooden torii in Japan. The Noh stage in the grounds is also an Important Cultural Property. When viewing the buildings over the sea, keep in mind that the tide changes how they look.

The Treasure Hall, directly opposite the corridor exit, was completed in 1934 (Showa 9) and is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. It is said to be the first building in Japan to coat concrete with lacquer to resemble a wooden structure, and it displays part of the shrine's treasures. Itsukushima Shrine was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 (Heisei 8). The official route runs from the east corridor through Marodo-jinja, the main shrine, and the Hirabutai platform to the west corridor, then past the Noh stage and the Sorihashi bridge to the exit. Visiting hours and tide conditions vary by day, so check the latest information on the official site before you go. It is located in Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture.