Miyajima Island, Japan
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Miyajima Island, considered so sacred that ordinary people were not allowed to set foot on the island. Worshipers approached the island by boat through a massive red gate (torii) in the middle of the bay (under renovation). This grand gateway, sturdy yet graceful, sits in the tidal flats in front of Itsukushima and welcomes spirits of the departed as they cross the water of Japan’s Inland Sea.
It is interesting to note that there are no cemeteries in Miyajima, in fact, no one is allowed to die or be born on the island, as it is a sacred place.
Visit the famous Itsukushima Shrine, dating back to the sixth century. In 1168 the Taira family, warrior-class leaders, ordered that the shrine be reconstructed. That work forms the basic composition of the buildings you will see today.
Long-term repair work will take place on the Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic Torii Gate beginning in June, 2019, lasting until August, 2020 (or longer). A visit to the shrine is still possible, however you will not be able to see the Torii Gate.
