Nature & Legend

Monuments & legends

Miraculous fire burning
for over 1200 years

This fire, said to have been lit by the Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835), during his retreat on Mount Misen, has continued to burn for more than 1,200 years inside the Reikado Pavilion. Legend says that water boiled on this fire cures all illnesses. Fire was also used to light the “Peace Flame” in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Visit Mount Misen in Miyajima as a couple and strengthen your love!

The pavilion which houses a “sacred eternal fire”, burning for over 1200 years, is said to bring even more happiness to the lovers who visit it and has been designated as a “lovers’ sanctuary”.

  • The Misen Hondo Pavilion

    Pavilion established at the place of asceticism of the Buddhist monk Kukai, Kobo Daishi

    The Buddhist monk Kukai (774-835), passing through Miyajima, while looking for a place of worship after his return from Tang China, had this pavilion built there in which he carried out a 100-day asceticism. The pavilion houses the Buddhist deity Kokuzo-Bosatsu with the guardian deities Fudomyo-o and Bishamon-ten at his side.

  • The Sankido Pavilion

    Family Protection – Business Prosperity

    This pavilion is unusual in that it is dedicated to a demon. Visitors come to seek protection for their families or prosperity for their businesses.

  • Miyama Shrine

    It is a sanctuary literally perched in the sky!

    A legend says that Miyamajinja Shrine was built as the back pavilion (Oku-no-miya) when Taira-no-Kiyomori built the main shrine of Itsukushima Shrine. The same deities are honored there as at Itsukushima-jinja shrine.

Nature

Awesome scenery created by nature

  • The “Kuguri-iwa”

    Gigantic rocks, create astonishing scenery

    The rocks, by the Mt. Misen Observatory, create a natural arch.
    Its dynamic scale overwhelms visitors.

  • Kujira-iwa(Whale Rock)

    A whale on the mountaintop?
    A rock shaped like a whale comes into sight abruptly on your way to the summit. It has a spouting hole on the top.

  • Funa-iwa(Ship Rock)

    Large Rock Ship!
    Big rock to have shape of boat with “Kanmaniwa” below soon.
    Under the rocks, guardian deity of children are enshrined.

  • Kaisen-iwa(Scabies Rock)

    Marvelous effect on patients!? Mysterious Rock!
    It is said that an imprudent person catches a skin disease when he passes the rock, and that the scabies patient is cured when he touches the rock because it takes his disease off.

  • Kanman-iwa(Ebb-and-flow rock)

    Mysterious ebb and flow appearing on a mountaintop
    The hollow of this strange rock sitting 500 meters above the sea is said to change its water level according to the come and go of the tied. It is one of the seven wonders of Misen.

  • Misen Primeval Forest

    The natural environment has been kept intact which creates magnificent scenery. Among the natural beauty, there are scattered strange rocks in addition to a variety of historical sites. In 1996, it was designated a World Cultural Heritage site as “Misen Virgin Forest together with Itsukushimajinja Shrine

Misen’s Highlights