Miyajima Island
   Miyajima (宮島), one of Japan's three most scenic places, is a beautiful island surrounded by The Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海).  Itsukushima-jinjya Shrine (厳島神社) built in an elegant style dating from the Heian Period (平安時代) is located here.  Many national treasures and important cultural assets are also preserved on the island.
   The following description is quoted from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Website:

   The island of Itsukushima, in the Seto Inland Sea, has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. The first shrine buildings here were probably erected in the 6th century.  The present shrine dates from the 13th century and the harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill.  The shrine plays on the contrasts in color and form between mountains and sea and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, which combines nature and human creativity.

  For further information of Itsukushima,
    Go to: the Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine Official Website.

  
  Miyajima Town (宮島町), together with Ono Town (大野町), was mergered into Hatsukaichi City (廿日市市) on November 3, 2005.  Hatsukaichi City has an area of 489.36 sq. km and its current population is 115,151 (October 1, 2007).

IMAGE	IMAGE NO.	DATA
Port to Shrine		On the way to Itsukushima-jinjya Shrine from Miyajima Port (宮島港)
	hhm2002-001	(Saturday 19 October) Deer near Miyajima Port
	hhm2002-002	(Saturday 19 October) Entrance Stone to Miyajima Town (宮島町).  It says, "One of Japan's '3 Most Beautiful Spots" (日本三景).  In addition, Istukushima-jinjya Shrine (厳島神社) and its environs of Miyajima was designated in December 1996 as a precious asset of the UNESCO World Heritage.
	hhm2002-003	(Saturday 19 October) Senjo-kaku (千畳閣; the main hall of the Hokoku-jinjya Shrine [豊國神社]) and Five-Storied Pagoda (五重塔; .  Senjo-kaku (lit. the tower building of one thousand tatami mats) was built as the Buddhist temple building called "Dai-kyodo" (大経堂; the great house of the Buddhist scriptures) by Hidetoshi Tomotomi (豊臣 秀吉) in the 15th year of Tensho (天正15年) or AD 1587.  The Five-Storied Pagaoda is 27m high, built in the 14th year of Oei (応永14年) or AD 1407.
Istukushima-jinjya		Istukushima-jinjya Shrine (厳島神社), Miyajima
	hhm2002-004	(Saturday 19 October) A Koma-inu Statue (狛犬; a guardian foo dog), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-005	(Saturday 19 October) Istukushima-jinjya Shrine.  First built in the latter half of the Sixth Century, Istukushima-jinjya Shrine was remodeled into the present beautiful structure by Kiyomori Taira (平 清盛, 1118-1181) in 1168.  After the decline of the Heike-clan (平家一族), successive lords of Hiroshima had worshipped this shrine as the guardian shrine of the samurai.
	hhm2002-006	(Saturday 19 October) Istukushima Shrine
	hhm2002-007	(Saturday 19 October) Old stage for Japanese Noh plays (能舞台), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine.  It was built by the fourth Hiroshima-Asano lord Tsunanaga (浅野綱長, 1659-1708).  It was destroyed by the typhoon no.19 in 1991 and reconstructed in 1994.   The first Noh play was performed by the 8th Kanze-tayu (8世観世太夫) in Miyajima in the 11th year of Eiroku (永禄11年) or AD 1568.  Since then, the Noh performance on the sea became an annual conventional event here.  Now it is annually performed between April 16 to 18.  It is widely known as "Jin-Noh" (神能; Noh play before God).
	hhm2002-008	(Saturday 19 October) O-Torii (大鳥居; the Grande Shrine Gate), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine.  About 200 meters in front of the main shrine and standing in the sea is the vermillion colored O-Torii which should be called the symbol of Miyajima.
	hhm2002-009	(Saturday 19 October) O-Torii (the Grande Shrine Gate), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-010	(Saturday 19 October) O-Torii (the Grande Shrine Gate), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-011	(Saturday 19 October) O-Torii (the Grande Shrine Gate), Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-012	(Saturday 19 October) The roof of Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-013	(Saturday 19 October) The backward of Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-014	(Saturday 19 October) The backward of Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-015	(Saturday 19 October) The backward of Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
	hhm2002-016	(Saturday 19 October) The backward of Istukushima-jinjya Shrine
Off Itsukushima-jinjya		Off Istukushima-jinjya Shrine (厳島神社), Miyajima
	hhm2002-017	(Saturday 19 October) A grilled oyster stall in the back street, Miyajima
	hhm2002-018	(Saturday 19 October) Five-Storied Pagoda (五重塔; b. 1407), Miyajima
	hhm2002-019	(Saturday 19 October) A small shrine for a horse god, Miyajima

        

Copyright (c) 2002-2007 Eishiro Ito.  All rights reserved.