Visitors Damaging Japan's Famous Torii Gate

Above, the Itsukushima Shrine Torii Gate during high tide. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island near Hiroshima are unintentionally causing damage to the iconic torii gate which may eventually cause it to collapse.

According to RocketNews24:

Hiroshima Prefecture’s Miyajima, though, is absolutely worth visiting, regardless of what specifically drew you to Japan. The mountainous island is covered with centuries-old shrines and lush forests, and wild yet calm deer walk through the town where the ferry port is located. And then there’s the sight of Itsukushima Shrine’s torii gate rising from the waters of the bay, one of the most iconic views in all of Japan. 

When the tide is low, you can actually walk all the way out to the base of the torii, where travelers routinely snap close-up photos of its orange-painted timbers. 

But because the lower part of the gate spends much of the day underwater, the wood is cracked and warped in spots. Unfortunately, some tourists have taken to cramming coins into the cracks, creating an unsightly mess that can’t be good for the torii. 

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