The "floating" Torii Gate

Miyajima Island

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October 1st 2006
We took a ferry to Miyajima Island, not far from Hiroshima. This sacred island is the home of the Itsukushima-jinja Shinto shrine and its famous floating Torii gate (it is in the water, rather than on land). This was because in ancient times, people weren’t allowed to set foot on the island and so entered the shrine by boat through the gate. People still aren’t allowed to be born or die here. ... read more

Asia » Japan » Hiroshima » Miyajima

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In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Fol... ... read more