Itsukushima
Hiroshima Prefecture · Japan
A sacred spiritual island that has been called the island of God and worshipped since ancient times.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation1:53
Welcome to Itsukushima, more commonly known as Miyajima, the Island of the Shrine. As we stand here on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea, we are looking at one of the Three Most Scenic Views of Japan—a designation held since the…
Listen in the app2Omotesando and the Sacred Messengers1:40
As you disembark the ferry, you are greeted by two of Miyajima’s most famous residents: the sacred deer and the vibrant Omotesando Shopping Street. In the Shinto tradition, deer are considered messengers of the gods, divine…
Listen in the app3The Grand Torii Gate — A Monument of the Sea1:42
We stand now before the O-Torii, or Grand Torii Gate, perhaps the most photographed structure in all of Japan. This nearly seventeen-meter-tall monument marks the entrance to the sacred realm of Itsukushima Shrine. …
Listen in the app4Itsukushima Shrine — Architecture of the Tides1:49
Stepping onto the boardwalks of Itsukushima Shrine, you are entering a masterpiece of Heian-period architecture. The shrine was originally founded in the sixth century, but its current grandeur is thanks to Taira no Kiyomori, who…
Listen in the app5Senjokaku and the Five-Story Pagoda1:44
Leaving the water behind, we climb a small hill to find the Senjokaku Pavilion and its neighboring Five-Story Pagoda. Senjokaku translates to the Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats, a name that perfectly conveys the staggering…
Listen in the app6Mount Misen — The Summit of the Gods1:37
For those seeking a higher perspective, both literally and spiritually, a trip to the summit of Mount Misen is essential. Reaching 535 meters above sea level, this mountain is the highest point on the island and has been a site…
Listen in the app7Daisho-in — The Temple of Five Hundred Disciples1:51
As we descend from the heights of Mount Misen, we arrive at Daisho-in, the most significant Buddhist temple on the island. Founded by Kobo Daishi in the year 806, this temple complex is a hidden gem of intricate detail and…
Listen in the app8Closing1:24
Our journey across Itsukushima draws to a close as the sun begins to dip behind the mountains of the mainland. We have walked the shifting sands beneath the O-Torii, wandered the corridors of a shrine that breathes with the tide,…
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What is Itsukushima?
Itsukushima is a place in Hiroshima Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Hiroshima Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 13 min 40 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 34.2779, 132.3170 |
| Last updated |
