TOMODACHI TV

TOP SHRINES

★ ＴＯＰ５ ★

From thousands of vermilion torii to a gate that floats on the sea — the shrines that define sacred Japan.

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NO.1

Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社

Head shrine of Inari ・ Kyoto (JR Inari Stn) ・ Free Head of ~30,000 Inari shrines

Founded 711; the Senbon Torii — thousands of red gates up a 4km mountain trail to Inari, deity of rice and prosperity.

Itsukushima / Miyajima 厳島神社

Shrine built over the sea ・ Hiroshima (ferry from Miyajimaguchi) ・ ¥300 UNESCO; one of Japan's Three Views

Dating to 593, rebuilt in the 12th c.; its 'floating' vermilion torii appears to rise from the sea at high tide.

Ise Jingu 伊勢神宮

Holiest shrine in Japan ・ Mie (Iseshi / Ujiyamada Stn) ・ Free Rebuilt every 20 years

Dedicated to sun goddess Amaterasu; its inner shrine is ritually rebuilt every two decades (Shikinen Sengu).

Nikko Toshogu 日光東照宮

Lavish shrine & mausoleum ・ Tochigi (Tobu/JR Nikko Stn + bus) ・ ¥1,600 UNESCO World Heritage

The ornate 1617 mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu; home of the famous 'see/hear/speak no evil' three monkeys carving.

Meiji Jingu 明治神宮

Shrine in a forest sanctuary ・ Tokyo (Harajuku Stn) ・ Free Tokyo's most-visited for New Year

Completed 1920 for Emperor Meiji, set in a hand-planted forest of 100,000 donated trees in the heart of the city.

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