After the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, we head to Kyoto. However, our stay in the former capital lasts just one night: the next day we’re already on our way to Hiroshima on a fully branded Hello Kitty train. Visiting the museum and the park commemorating the victims of the atomic bombing at the end of World War II leaves a deep impression, but this article will focus solely on the trip to Miyajima Island.
Miyajima island
Located off the coast of Hiroshima, Miyajima is a place rich in cultural and spiritual significance. Its name, which can be translated as “shrine island,” immediately evokes a sense of sacredness and reverence, reflected in the centuries of history and tradition that define it. The island has long been regarded as a special territory, where nature and spirituality are deeply intertwined, creating an atmosphere of harmony and contemplation. Its identity is closely tied to traditional Japanese thought, in which every natural element is seen as part of a living, sacred whole. This connection has shaped the view of the island as a place to be preserved, where the interaction between humans and the environment follows slower, more respectful rhythms.
The Itsukushima Shrine Otorii
The Great Torii of the Itsukushima Shrine is one of the most recognizable architectural elements of Japan's cultural heritage. This gateway symbolically marks the entrance to a sacred area. Like many torii gates in Japan, its function is to delineate the boundary between the profane and the sacred, in this case linked to a Shinto shrine with origins dating back to the 6th century. The current structure of the Great Torii was reconstructed in 1875 and stands about 16 meters tall. Despite its imposing size, the structure is not anchored to the seabed with deep foundations, but rather relies on its own weight and ingenious structural balance to stay upright. In addition to its religious significance, the Great Torii has been recognized as a cultural asset and is one of the elements that contributed to the designation of the Itsukushima Shrine as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
The Daishō-in temple complex
The Daishō-in Temple is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist centers in the Japanese archipelago. Founded in the year 806 by the monk Kūkai (also known as Kōbō Daishi), the temple belongs to the Shingon school of Esoteric Buddhism, a tradition characterized by complex rituals and profound spiritual symbolism.
Among the points of interest in the complex are:
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The hundreds of Jizō statues, protective deities of travelers and children, each with a different expression and often adorned with hats or bibs left by worshipers.
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The Sutra Roll Path, metal cylinders that visitors spin as they walk: according to tradition, this is equivalent to reciting the sacred texts.
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The ornately decorated prayer halls, rich in artistic details and votive offerings, reflecting the vibrant spirituality of the place.
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The Henjokutsu Cave, illuminated by lanterns and containing miniatures of the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage, symbolically offering visitors the chance to complete the pilgrimage in a smaller form.
A trip through the various temples, which can be explored by climbing the many stairways: all within a sacred forest that fully conveys its deep religious influences and almost transports you to a parallel world, far from the modernity and chaos of the big cities.
With the next stop of the tour, we arrive at a place that’s the complete opposite: we head to Osaka, with its endless restaurant mascots, bustling in excitement for Expo 2025!
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