Itsukushima Shrine Ōtorii

The Itsukushima Shrine Ōtorii is a wooden gate standing about 16.6 meters tall and rising from the waters of the bay in bright red paint. It has four posts and a thick upper beam assembled following classical Japanese proportions and wooden joinery techniques.

The current wooden structure was built in 1875, replacing earlier versions that traced back to the Heian period when this shrine first took shape. Since then, it has been rebuilt and repaired multiple times to withstand the forces of the sea and time.

The gate displays a bright red color that makes it stand out from the water and marks this as a sacred place. The design and painting follow long-standing Shinto traditions that continue to shape how visitors understand the shrine.

The best time to visit is at low tide, when you can walk around the gate and view it up close from the water level. At high tide, the gate rises directly from the water, offering a completely different visual effect.

The gate weighs approximately 60 tons, and this massive weight holds it in position on the seabed without needing to be buried or anchored with foundations. The weight alone keeps it stable enough to withstand strong waves and currents for decades.

Location: Hatsukaichi

Height: 16.591 m

Reference: 厳島神社大鳥居

Accessibility: Ograniczony dostęp dla wózków inwalidzkich

Made from material: wood

Part of: Itsukushima Shrine

Color: red

Website: https://photos.app.goo.gl/4bdVrnnC7goAYJjG6

GPS coordinates: 34.29730,132.31820

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:13