Itukushima Shirine, World Heritage
by gogonicetrip
Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shirine on Itsukushima Island in the town of Miyajima.The sites registered on the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1996 as a cultural heritageThe dramatic gate ("Torii" in Japanese) of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, and the view of the gate in front of the island's Mount Misen is classified as one of the Tree Veiews of Japan (along with the sand bar Amanohashidate, and Matsushima Bay). The gate has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates back to 1875. The gate, built of camphor wood, is about 16 metres high, and has a four-legged (yotsu-ashi) style to provide additional stability.The gate only appears to be floating at high tide - when the tide is low, the gate is surrounded by mud and can be accessed on foot from the island. It is common practice for visitors to place coins in the cracks of the legs of the...