TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 02-2016 | Page 67

Many tourists come to Miyajima to catch a glimpse
of the sunrise over this magnificent gate.

Visit the floating shrine -
a World Heritage Site
Kontowing to the Buddha is one of the
most important activities as the new year
approaches.

I

f you have a chance to visit
Japan in early 2016, do not
forget to admire the mysterious
and unassuming beauty of
Itsukushima shine on the
island of Miyajima - Top Travel
Destination 2016. The shrine is known
worldwide for its iconic "floating" torii
gate. The sight of the 16m vermilion torii
gate which seems to float in the sea during
high tide is one of the canonical Three
Views of Japan. The shrine was also listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1996.
On the way to Itsukushima shine, you will
pass through the primeval Misen forest
where you might be welcomed by friendly
wild deer. Along the path, you will find an
abundance of food stalls and restaurants
as well as local souvenir shops. You will
be enticed by the aroma of celebrated
dishes such as anago meshi (broiled eel
served over rice) and grilled oysters. From

a distance, you can see the giant torii
gate looming above the water, separating
Miyajima - the land of Gods - from the
outside world. The gate’s structured frame
is not fixed to the ground but stabilized
entirely by its own weight. Many tourists
come to Miyajima to catch a glimpse of the
sunrise over this magnificent gate. The gate
is built using traditional Japanese carpentry
practices, so there aren’t any nails used in
this building’s construction. Instead, things
are fitted together using sophisticated
joining techniques. Even, the gaps between
the floor slabs are also precisely calibrated
to reduce tidal pressure in large storms.
Itsukushima consists of several different
shines creatively laid out, though some in
risky locations. They were built by Taira no
Kiyomori, a samarai leader from the 12th
century. The torii appears to be floating only
at high tide. Commoners wishing to enter
the shrine must steer their boats through
the torii before approaching. The island
itself is considered sacred, as it was the place
where the god of mountains and the god of
sea resided; therefore, pregnant women, the
old, and the sick are not allowed to live on
the island. No deaths or births are permitted
near the shrine.

MÉch bÑn
ü ßi lπi: Tı trπm
Miyajima-guchi Æi phµ
(h∑ng JR ho∆c Matsudai)
Æ’n Miyajima m†t
kho∂ng 10 - 15 phÛt.
Vä 2 chi“u: 360 yen.
Ho∆c tı Heiwa Koen
Motoyasusanbashi
(trung t©m thµnh phË
Hiroshima) Æ’n Miyajima
bªng thuy“n cao tËc m†t
kho∂ng 50 phÛt.
ü L≠u ˝: Vµo mÔa Æ´ng,
Æ“n Itsukushima chÿ mÎ
cˆa Æ’n 17:00.
ü Tham kh∂o th´ng
tin chi ti’t tπi website:
http://www.miyajimawch.jp

Note
ü Transportation:
From Miyajima-guchi
station, take a ferry
(JR or Matsudai) to
Miyajima. It takes about
10-15 minites. Price:
360yen/guest/round
trip. You can also
travel by express train
from Heiwa Koen
Motoyasusanbashi, the
heart of Hiroshima, to
Miyajima. It takes about
50 minutes.
ü In winter, Itsukushima
opens until 5pm
ü For detailed
information, please visit
http://www.miyajimawch.jp

TRAVELLIVE

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