Interesting+facts+about+Miyajima+Island


 * Miyajima is small
 * It is outside the city of Hiroshima
 * It is most famous for its giant torii gate
 * At high tide, the gate seems to float on top of the water
 * It is ranked as one of Japan's three best views
 * It is officially named Itsukushima
 * It is commonly refered to as Miyajima because it means "shrine-island"
 * The shrine's main buildings are built over water
 * It is a romantic place
 * There are many tourists each day, but in the evening the area becomes much quieter and peaceful
 * There are wild deer and monkeys on the island that have become accustomed to people
 * Miyajima Island has a long history as a holy site of Shinto
 * The island's highest peak, Mount Misen, was worshiped by local people as early as the 6th century
 * The most powerful man in Japan during the end of the Heian Period, selected the island as the site of his clan's family shrine
 * It is said that Buddhism was first practiced on Mount Misen
 * It is home to the famous Daisho-in temple
 * Senjokaku Hall was built there for chanting Buddhist sutras for fallen soldiers
 * Senjokaku Hall was never fully completed.