Setonaikai National Park ( 瀬戸内海国立公園 , Setonaikai Kokuritsu Kōen ) is a Japanese national park , comprising areas of Japan 's Seto Inland Sea , and of ten bordering prefectures . Designated a national park in 1934, it has since been expanded several times. It contains about 3,000 islands, known as the Setouchi Islands , including the well-known Itsukushima . As the park encompasses many non-contiguous areas, and covers a tiny proportion of the Inland Sea's total extent, control and protection is problematic; much of the wider area is heavily industrialized.
30-512: In 1934, when the area was envisioned as Japan’s first national park, it was far smaller than the expanse of today. Sixteen years later, in 1950, an expansion would seek to include other iconic sites in the region, bringing the total area roughly up to that of the present-day. Setonaikai is the biggest national park in Japan. In 1996, Itsukushima Shrine (in Hiroshima prefecture) was registered as
60-416: A fire in 1915. Ichinomiya and Soja are not the same thing but were sometimes combined Sōja ( 総社 ) is a type of Shinto shrine where the kami of a region are grouped together into a single sanctuary. This "region" may refer to a shōen , village or geographic area, but is more generally referred to a whole province . The term is also occasionally called "sōsha". The sōja are usually located near
90-553: A medieval school of esoteric Japanese Buddhism associated with the Shingon Sect . The torii appears to be floating only at high tide . When the tide is low, it is approachable by foot from the island. Gathering shellfish near the gate is popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the structure. The current torii dates to 1875, although there has been one on that site since 1168. Shinto architecture has many distinct parts, most of which include
120-475: A prominent noble of the Imperial Court and later Chancellor ( Daijō-daijin ), who contributed heavily to the construction of the shrine during his time as governor of Aki Province in 1168. Another renowned patron of the shrine was Mōri Motonari , lord of Chōshū Domain , who was responsible for rebuilding the honden in 1571. As a result of waging war against Sue Takafusa there in 1555, Motonari
150-458: A shrine on the island of Miyajima, and pay homage to its kami who are enshrined there for his success in life. The renovations funded by the Taira allowed for Itsukushima to "grow into an important religious complex." The Itsukushima shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto : Ichikishimahime no mikoto, Tagorihime no mikoto, and Tagitsuhime no mikoto. Otherwise known as
180-507: A “cultural site of world heritage” by UNESCO. It is known as one of the top three “most scenic spots” in Japan. In the 1960s and 1970s, a period of rapid economic growth was fueled in Japan, resulting in industrial contamination of the surrounding environment. In both fresh and ocean waters, unmonitored chemical runoff led to reduced water quality, mainly due to area farms’ use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Detrimental levels of heavy metals began to rise, gradually affecting
210-615: Is in the city of Hatsukaichi , in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan , accessible from the mainland by ferry at Miyajimaguchi Station . The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and the Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as National Treasures . The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions. It is most famous for its dramatic gate, or torii on
240-727: Is said to have tainted the island's grounds by battling on the island. Spilling blood violated the strict taboos meant to preserve the sacred purity associated with Shinto shrines. The only surviving structure in Itsukushima shrine from the Kamakura period is the Kyakuden or "Guest-God's Shrine". It was not uncommon during the 12th century for the nobility to build shrines or take on other architectural projects in order to "reflect their power and splendor." The Taira clan are known specifically for their involvement in maritime trade with
270-621: Is sometimes referred to as “Mediterranean”; in essence, the average temperature in winter rarely dips below freezing, or above 90°F (around 30°C) in the summer. There are numerous sightseeing places in the national park. Kanmon Strait is one of them. It is between Honshu and Kyushu. A suspension bridge called Kanmon Bridge spans the strait. In 1973, when it was opened for the public, it was the longest bridge (0.66 miles) in Asia. The Naruto whirlpools in Tokushima prefecture are tidal whirlpools in
300-698: The Shinden-zukuri style, equipped with pier-like structures over the Matsushima bay in order to create the illusion of floating on the water, separate from island, which could be approached by the devout "like a palace on the sea." This idea of intertwining architecture and nature is reflective of a popular trend during the 16th century as well as the Heian period in which Japanese structures tended to "follow after their environment," often allowing trees, water, and other forms of natural beauty to enter into
330-558: The Song dynasty (960–1279) and for attempting to monopolize overseas trade along the Inland Sea. Kiyomori was at the height of his power when he established the Taira dominion over the island. He "ordered construction of the main hall of Itsukushima shrine as a display of reverence for the tutelary god of navigation and to serve as a base for maritime activities..." Miyajima soon became the Taira family shrine. Supposedly, Kiyomori chose
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#1732798585791360-461: The provincial capital established in the Nara period under then ritsuryō system, and can either be a newly created shrine, or a designation for an existing shrine. The "sōja" can also be the " ichinomiya " of the province, which themselves are of great ritual importance. Whenever a new kokushi was appointed by the central government to govern a province, it was necessary for him to visit all of
390-408: The sanjoshin or "three female deities", these Shinto deities are the goddesses of seas and storms. Kiyomori believed the goddesses to be "manifestations of Kannon ," therefore the island was understood as the home of the bodhisattva . In Japanese, the word Itsukushima translates to "island dedicated to the gods." The island itself is also considered to be a god, which is why the shrine was built on
420-414: The "Three Great Shrines of Aki Province", along with Take Shrine and Hayatani Shrine . The first torii on the site is said to have been erected in 593, supposedly by Saeki Kuramoto during the reign of Empress Suiko (592–628 CE ). Although a torii has been in place at the site since 1168, the current structure dates to 1875. The present shrine has been popularly attributed to Taira no Kiyomori ,
450-632: The Kojiki, an ancient Japanese text) or Enomiya (mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, another ancient text), where Emperor Jinmu stayed for seven years during his eastern expedition. However the status of the shrine gradually declined over time from being one of the three great shrines, and its location was lost during the Edo period . Its treasure house is one of the few remaining buildings of Hiroshima Castle . The Take Shrine's treasure house managed to survive
480-620: The Naruto Strait, a channel between Naruto and Awaji Island in Hyogo prefecture. The whirlpools, one of the prefecture’s major tourist attractions, are formed due to a narrow width (0.8 miles) of the strait and a water level of 5.6 feet between the Inland Sea and the Open Sea caused by the ebb and flow of the tide. It sometimes creates a whirlpool 100 feet in diameter. There are facilities where people can experience and learn about nature in
510-461: The center, people can see the panorama of the bridge and the Inland Sea. It is possible to learn about the nature around the bridge and the history of the Inland Sea. The park crosses the borders of 55 cities , 14 towns , and one village : Itsukushima Shrine Itsukushima Shrine ( 厳島神社 , Itsukushima-jinja ) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima), best known for its "floating" torii . It
540-439: The decor of homes and buildings. That led to a far more intimate relationship between the two. The most recognizable and celebrated feature of the Itsukushima shrine, is its 50-foot (15 m)-tall vermilion otorii gate ("great gate"), built of decay-resistant camphor wood . The placement of an additional leg in front of and behind each main pillar identifies the torii as reflecting the style of Ryōbu Shintō (dual Shinto),
570-452: The family, each completing the transcription of one scroll, and it was "decorated with silver, gold, and mother-of-pearl by himself [Kiyomori] and other members of his clan." Originally Itsukushima was a pure Shinto shrine "where no births or deaths were allowed to cause pollution". Because the island itself has been considered sacred, commoners were not allowed to set foot on it throughout much of its history to maintain its purity. Retaining
600-500: The location also for the reason to further establish himself in the Heian aristocracy as one who deviated from the social norms of Shinto pilgrimage . He lavished great wealth upon Itsukushima, and he enjoyed showing the place to his friends and colleagues, or even to royal personages..." It is also said that Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine on account of a dream he had of an old monk who promised him dominion over Japan if he constructed
630-405: The natural food chain and greater ecosystem. Starting in the 1980s (and continuing on into the present day), water quality has been drastically improved; stricter regulations on chemical use and runoff would be enforced, as well as advancements in technology, namely a high-performance sewage disposal. Setonaikai National Park maintains relatively mild temperatures throughout the year, so the climate
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#1732798585791660-511: The outskirts of the island. Adding to its sanctity, Mount Misen is the tallest peak at about 1,755 feet. Tourists can either hike or take a ropeway to the top. Its treasures include the celebrated Heike Nōkyō , or "Sutras dedicated by the House of Taira ." These consist of thirty-two scrolls, on which the Lotus, Amida, and Heart sutras have been copied by Kiyomori, his sons, and other members of
690-530: The outskirts of the shrine, the sacred peaks of Mount Misen , extensive forests, and its ocean view. The shrine complex itself consists of two main buildings: the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja, as well as 17 other different buildings and structures that help to distinguish it. Itsukushima jinja was the chief Shinto shrine ( ichinomiya ) of Aki Province . This shrine is one of
720-461: The park. Mt. Rokko Nature Conservation Center and Mt. Rokko Guide House in Hyogo prefecture are places where people can find natural specimens of Mt. Rokko. Wasuzan Business Center is in Okayama prefecture. It stands on the top of Washuzan Mountain. It is near Seto-ohashi Bridge which is a series of ten bridges between Okayama and Kagawa prefectures. The total length is 8.1 miles (13.1 km). From
750-401: The purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births have been permitted near it. To this day, pregnant women are supposed to retreat to the mainland as the day of delivery approaches, as are the terminally ill or the very elderly whose passing has become imminent. Burials on the island are forbidden. To allow pilgrims to approach, the shrine was built like a pier over
780-527: The shrine at a cost of 300 yen. Take Shrine Akitsuhiko no Mikoto [ ja ] (founder of Aki Province ), Empress Jingu , Emperor Ojin , Okuninushi , Take Shrine (多家神社) is a Sōja shrine in Fuchu , Aki District, Hiroshima . It is a Sōja shrine so it enshrines all the kami of the shrines in Aki Province . It is located on the site of Hiroshima Castle . It
810-404: The shrine's honden (main hall) and the unusually long haiden (main oratory), and its equally long heiden (offertory hall). The honden "is an eight-by-four bay structure with a kirizuma roof surfaced in cypress bark." Its walls are decorated in white stucco , and were constructed using a process requiring fifteen coats of white stucco, with vermilion woodwork. Extending from
840-477: The sides of the haraiden of the main shrine is a noh stage which dates from 1590. Noh theater performances have long been used to pay homage to the gods through the ritual acting out of key events in Shinto myth. On September 5, 2004, the shrine was severely damaged by Typhoon Songda . The boardwalks and roof were partially destroyed, and the shrine was temporarily closed for repairs. Today anyone can visit
870-457: The water, so that it appeared to float, separate from the land. The red entrance gate, or torii , was built over the water for much the same reason. Commoners had to steer their boats through the torii before approaching the shrine. Japan has gone to great lengths to preserve the twelfth-century-style architecture of the Shrine throughout history. The shrine was designed and built according to
900-583: Was mentioned in 927 in the Engishiki and highly ranked as a Myojin Taisha .. There used to be an earlier Soja Shrine before it was moved here This shrine is one of the "Three Great Shrines of Aki Province", along with Itsukushima Shrine and Hayatani Shrine . According to shrine tradition, the original Take Shrine was established on the site of the Takemikazuchi Palace (mentioned in
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