Shrines 1

The first three photos show the Itsukushima Shrine. This shrine was approached from the water and you should come through the Torii gate to be purified before entering the shrine. At the entrance there is a straw rope ("shimenawa") with white zigzag paper strips ("gohei"). These mark the entrance to a sacred place.

Miyajima (literally Shinto Shrine Island) also has Buddhist Temples.