Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Itsukushima or Miyajima island in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Itsukushima island in the Seto inland sea is a holy place of Shintoism. The shrine is an official national treasure of Japan and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.
Itsukushima Shrine was originally founded in the 6th century but the current buildings are from the 12th century. The shrine is a perfect example of the Japanese concept of beauty, a harmonic blend of nature and human artistry. The buildings have mountains as their backdrop with the sea in front, and are considered masterpieces of Japanese architecture.
The technical and artistic skills visible in the Itsukushima Shrine stand out among the various shrines across Japan. The shrine complex contains 2 main buildings and 17 other structures. The two main buildings are the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja.
The grand gate or torii of the shrine, the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, the forest, and the view of the ocean make it a popular tourist destination.
Picture Credit : Google
