Miyajima’s Great Torii Gate
In the movie The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) a man looks out upon Rome and falls from a heart attack, having seen something so stunning that it overwhelmed him. Miyajima’s great torii gate is kind of like that, designated as one of Japan’s three scenic most places (nihon sankei). The red archway against the backdrop of Hiroshima Bay remains a breathtaking view.
Unlike Hakone’s red torii gate, which is also positioned in water, Miyajima’s is like a living organism. It is accessible to walk around when the tide is out, and then sheltered at night as the tide comes back in. It creates an active experience where the tourists are part of the view, something that I am not bothered by even as I aim for pristine shots of this landmark.
The orange/red structures nearby are from the rest of the Itsukushima Shrine that also sits along the beach. It serves as its own walking experience with a winding hallway that runs from the East to the West in the heart of the island’s main town. If this isn’t on your Japan bucket list, it should be, and I hope the photos do it a hint of justice to understand why.
Photos taken with the Nikon Z9 and NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II lens