Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

Miyajima is an island located in Hiroshima Prefecture. It is situated in the western part of Hiroshima Bay. Since ancient times, Japanese people have considered the island to be holy. They worshipped the whole island as a goddess. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, which is located on the island, was originally built in the 12th century by Taira no Kiyomori, the leader of the times. The shrine is representative of the Japanese spirit. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996.