Japan Trip Report, Apr12-28, 2024, Day 9: Day trip to Miyajima
DAY 9, Apr 20 Saturday 2024: Kyoto day trip Miyajima, Daisho-in
Itsukushima (厳島) is an island in the western part of the Inland Sea of Japan, located in the northwest of Hiroshima Bay. the Shinto shrine was built like a pier over the water, so that it appeared to float, separate from the land "like a palace on the sea.". The red entrance gate, or torii, was built over the water for the same reason.
This sea is affected by strong tides. At high tide, the sea fills areas underneath the shrine boardwalk and the whole structure of the shrine, including the Torii gate appear to be floating. This floating phenomenon is one of the top features which attracts visitors
Itsukushima is popularly known as Miyajima (宮島), which in Japanese means "Shrine Island" .
a torii has been in place at the site since 1168, the current structure dates to 1875. The 50-foot (15 m)-tall vermilion otorii gate ("great gate"), is built of decay-resistant camphor wood
LOGISTICS
Hiroshima is 360 kilometres from Kyoto, takes 1h 45min by shinkansen. From Hiroshima, Miyajima can be reached in less than an hour by train and ferry.
from Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (25 minutes, 420 yen one way).
From Miyajimaguchi Station, it is a short walk to the ferry pier, ferry rides take 10 minutes and cost 200 yen one way
the shrine is best seen when there is high tide. given the distance between Kyoto to the Miyajima shrine and the timings of the high tide, it was a bit tricky to plan this day trip
The timings of high tide vary everyday. we consulted a website
and decided to visit on Saturday, it was forecast that at 8.11am, the high tide will be 3.11m. We knew it'll take a couple of hours for the water to drain, so we stood a good chance to see the gate in water by the time we reached Miyajima from Kyoto
Monday had better/more convenient high tide timings but we were leaving Kyoto that day. The previous days were totally inconvenient so No use for us. We did not want to go on Sunday because we had a very early morning train to board on Monday . If we returned late on Sunday we may be too tired to board our booked train trip at 6am. For the other days the high Tide was too early or too late for us to catch on a day trip
We had already booked tickets for the trip.
Departure date: Apr 20,
2024 Kyoto(06:55)-->NOZOMI 271-->Hiroshima(08:36) Series
N700S with 16 cars Ordinary Car.16 Seat.13-D Car.16 Seat.13-E
We had an early start at 6:55 for what
will turn out to be another awesome day.
We were on the island at 9:30, in fact
we could see the gate in the tidal water right from our boat. It was
great that we could time it, coming in from Kyoto.
Torii gate seen in water right from the boat...
we walked to the shrine. This map shows all our sites circled
Torii gate seen in water...
The shrine and Mt Misen in the background and the traditional stone lanterns dotted along the bank
The shrine still in some water... framed by Mt Misen
Komainu (狛犬), often called lion-dogs in English, are statue pairs of lion-like creatures, which traditionally guard the entrance or gate of the shrine
Komainu (狛犬), lion-dogs
Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall (厳島神社宝物館)
We went to the Treasure Hall next
Ever since the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima was built in its current state in the 12th century, many fine artifacts and historical documents were offered to it as tribute.
At the Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall, a few of these precious offerings to the shrine are on display.
The Treasure Hall is located a mere few paces from the exit of the shrine, we had bought a combo ticket
The shrine houses the renowned Heike Nokyo, an ancient set of 32 lavishly decorated sutra scrolls gifted by its patrons, the Heike Clan in 1164; the scrolls are now considered one of Japan's national treasures.
Model of the shrine...
Sketch of the shrine
The whole square is very beautiful dotted with small shrines
PICNIC MEAL
Enjoyed some of the altars nearby
Fudo Myo-o, “the immovable or unshakable one.” He is one of five myo-o, or lords of light, whose threatening appearance guards the Law of Buddhism. He is equipped to guide the spiritual traveler past temptation on the path to enlightenment.
Yakushi Nyorai... Healing Buddha
Yakushi Nyorai... Healing Buddha:
In his left hand, he holds a small jar of medicine or a magical healing emerald..called CHINTAMANI in Sanskrit. Right hand shows the ABHAYA MUDRA... don't fear gesture
Human powered pedicabs...
rickshaws. The shafu ( rickshaw drivers) also double as guides,
SOUVENIRS
Torii gate at low tide....
water had ebbed away
Seeing the Torii gate not floating was good too, made us appreciate what a great sight it had been to see it floating
we were walking toward the ropeway, saw the lovely spectacle of this temple, went in that direction
Daisho-in (大聖院, Daishōin) [Founded in 806 CE]
Daisho-in is a historic Japanese temple complex with many temples and statues on Mount Misen, the holy mountain on the island of Itsukushima
It is one of the most important temples of Shingon Buddhism. It is located at the base of Mount Misen,
There are also many buildings, gates of the temple and many statues of Kannon, Jūichimen Kannon, Fudō-myōō (Acala) and Seven Lucky Gods
Niomon Gate:
At the main entrance of Daisho-in Temple, Nio statues, which are believed to ward off enemies and protect Buddhism, are enshrined.
Statues of Benzaiten (Saraswati), Kangiten (Ganesh), and Bishamonten (Kubera)
O-Jizo-sama
Jizō statues ...guardian of children adorned with bibs, kerchiefs or kasa hat on head
500 Rakan statues
there is a collection of 500 rakan statues. "Rakan", or "Arhat" is a Buddhist term signifying a spiritual practitioner, or high priest, who has attained enlightenment
Each statue represents a Buddhist monk who was an actual disciple of Shaka (Buddha). Look at their faces carefully. Each one is totally unique. In them, we can see every conceivable human trait and emotion: wisdom, pain, happiness, fulfillment, frustration, intelligence, and pride
PRAYER WHEELS ON THE STEPS
Along the stairs is a row of spinning metal wheels that are inscribed with sutras (Buddhist scriptures). Turning the inscriptions as one walks up is believed to have the same effect as reading them.
So, without any knowledge of Japanese or Sanskrit, we can benefit from the blessings that the reading of the sutras entails.
Onarimon Gate
The Imperial Gate is made entirely of cypress wood, with a karahafu structure and cypress bark roof.
Fudo Myoo
This Fudo Myo-o, said to be the work of Kobo Daishi, was originally enshrined in the Dainichi Hall on Mt. Misen, and has been housed in the main temple's Reihokan Museum
Chokkaido/Chokgan-do Hall
The statues of the 16 good deities who protect the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, as well as 20 statues of Bodhisattva Jotei, Bodhisattva Dharmakaya, Tripitaka Master Xuanzang, and General Jinsha, all of whom are closely related to the sutra, are enshrined in front of the Chokkaido Hall.
One hundred Fudo Myo-o and a thousand Fudo Myo-o
They are enshrined surrounding the principal image of the Chokgan-do Hall, Namikiri Fudo Myo-o, and are enshrined to grant people's wishes
Commemorating the current (77th) head priest’s succession, 1,000 Fudo myo-o, or Immovable King, images were donated by worshipers.
100 Kannon Sand Stepping
Sand from the Thirty-Three Kannon Bodhisattvas of the Saigoku region, the Thirty-Three Kannon Bodhisattvas of Bando, and the Thirty-Three Kannon Bodhisattvas of Chichibu is stored here.
Yakushido
It enshrines Yakushi Nyorai and the Twelve Heavenly Generals.
The Thirty-Three Transformations of the Kannon Bodhisattva
It enshrines Kannon Bodhisattva, who appears in 33 different forms for the benefit of all living beings
Buddha in Nirvana and the Sixteen Arhats
This temple enshrines Shaka Nyorai and the Sixteen Arhats, and beneath the stone footprint in front of it is sand from the sites of the Eight Great Buddhas of India. Visitors can stand on this stone footprint to offer prayers.
Amitabha Hall
It enshrines the Amida Trinity.
Amitabha Buddha enshrined in Amida hall. He is the Buddha of the Western Pure Land.
The Zodiac Jizo
Each statue of one of the twelve zodiac animals is said to have the power to ward off evil spirits.
1000 Buddhas
1000 little statues of Buddha line the outside
Ichigan Daishi/ Hiken Daishi
this revered master can grant any wish we make by simply thinking about it.
weapon...vajra
Rokuharamitsu Jizo
Jizo represents the mindset required to attain enlightenment (charity giving, keeping the precepts, patience, concentration, diligence, and wisdom).
Henjokutsu Cave
In this dimly lit cave are the sand and the principal Buddhist icons of the eighty eight temples of the prestigious pilgrimage route on Shikoku.
This cave called Henjokutsu houses eighty-eight Buddhist statues under a ceiling covered with lanterns.
The principal images of each of the 88 sacred sites in Shikoku are enshrined here, and sand from each sacred site is buried in front of the image. It is said that walking on the sand will bring the same merit as walking the pilgrimage around Shikoku
Hakkaku Manpukudo Seven Lucky Gods
The shrine is home to seven gods of good fortune: Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Jurojin, and Hotei, and is famous as the Miyajima Seven Lucky Gods. A memorial service is held here every year on July 7th.
Bishamonten is usually identified by the miniature stupa—both a symbol of the Buddhist Law and a special treasure granted him by the Buddha—that he holds on his left palm, while in his right hand he grasps a long lance. Bishamonten is the Guardian King of the North, one of the four fierce protectors of the cardinal directions (Shitennō)
Ebisu (えびす, 恵比須, 恵比寿, 夷, 戎), or called Hiruko (蛭子) or Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami (事代主神), is the Japanese god of fishermen and luck. The weak child overcame many hardships, grew legs (and the rest of his skeletal structure) at the age of three, and became the god Ebisu. He remains slightly crippled and deaf, but mirthful and auspicious nonetheless (hence the title, "The laughing god").
He is often depicted wearing a tall hat—the Kazaori Eboshi (風折烏帽子)—holding a rod and a large red sea bream or sea bass.
Benzaiten is the Japanese goddess of wisdom, water, fortune, and knowledge who originated mainly from the Hindu Indian Saraswati, goddess of speech, the arts, and learning. She is often depicted holding a biwa (a traditional Japanese lute) similar to how Saraswati is depicted with a veena in Indian art, though she may also be portrayed wielding a sword and a wish-granting jewel (cintāmaṇi)
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.... Jizos
Binzulu Venerable Master/Healing Buddha
He is the chief disciple of the Arhat and is highly skilled in supernatural powers. He is also known as the "Rubbing Buddha" because it is said that if we rub the same part of our body that is weak, we will be cured.
So many beautiful shrines and statues
and beauty at every nook and corner.. We were so happy we had visited
this place
We had wanted to stay back till the
sunset and enjoy the lighting of the shrine and the gate but it
became cloudy so we had to drop the idea
It started drizzling, so we gave up our
idea of the cable way as well and walked to the pier.
Took the ferry.
We retraced our way
back taking a local train to Hiroshima and then shinkansen to Kyoto.
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