Day 3: Itsukushima Shrine
This is the ninth of 25 posts in the series Japan 2009.
We walked back down from our ryokan, Momiji-so, to Itsukushima shrine and the large torii gate that stood in front of it.
Behind Itsukushima shrine, with the tide out. When the tide comes in the shrine appears to float on the water.
A large number of deer live on the island, and many of them spend their time walking around the tourist areas. They're pretty brazen, too, and had no problems walking up and sticking their noses in our bags, looking for paper and other things to eat.
You can walk out on the mud flats around the shrine. From here the ferry port is visible in the distance.
The o-torii gate in front of Itsukushima shrine. The island was once considered so holy that most people weren't allowed to set foot on it. Visitors would sail across on a boat, pass through the gate, then dock at Itsukushima shrine, built above the water.
The island is much more touristy now, but the spiritual aspect of the island is still important.
Ava navigates pools of water on the mud flats as she makes her way out to the shrine.
(far right) The tide was starting to come in, and the water was reaching the feet of the torii. The gate is fifty three feet tall.
Hatsukaichi is visible across the sea.
The torii has been reconstructed seventeen times since originally built in the twelfth century. The current gate was built in 1875.
My aunt tells me it's good luck if you can get a five yen coin up on the gate, but we unfortunately didn't know this at the time.
We also visited the nearby Senjokaku, built on a hill just above Itsukushima.
The roof of Senjokaku, the thousand mat pavillion. It's a huge hall that's mostly open space.
The nearby five story pagoda.
(far right) Ava momentarily rests on the steps to Senjokaku.
It was getting late, and most of the tourists were leaving the island as the last ferries departed. As the town closed down we set out exploring.