UNESCO World Heritage Site | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Itsukushima, Japan | ||||
Criteria | Cultural: i, ii, iv, vi | ||||
Reference | 776 | ||||
Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) | ||||
Area | 431.2 ha | ||||
Buffer zone | 2,634.3 ha | ||||
Website | www | ||||
Coordinates | 34°17′45″N 132°19′11″E / 34.29583°N 132.31972°E | ||||
Japanese name | |||||
Hiragana | いつくしまじんじゃ | ||||
Kyūjitai | 嚴島神社 | ||||
Shinjitai | 厳島神社 | ||||
| |||||
Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社, Itsukushima-jinja) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its "floating" torii.[1] It is in the city of Hatsukaichi, in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan, accessible from the mainland by ferry at Miyajimaguchi Station. The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as National Treasures.[2]
The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions. It is most famous for its dramatic gate, or torii on the outskirts of the shrine,[2] the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, extensive forests, and its ocean view.[1][3] The shrine complex itself consists of two main buildings: the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja, as well as 17 other different buildings and structures that help to distinguish it.[3]