Accessible on foot from Ieshima Port, Ieshima Shrine is a quiet and tranquil shrine deeply rooted in the island's life and history. The grounds are not particularly large, but they are carefully maintained, and you can sense the atmosphere that has been carefully protected by the islanders. As you walk along the approach to the shrine, you can feel the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea and island time, and it is a peaceful place far removed from the hustle and bustle of tourist destinations. The torii gates and shrine buildings give you a sense of the shrine's long history, and stopping by on your travels will naturally put your mind at ease. If you visit Ieshima, this shrine can be said to be the spiritual center of the island, and is a must-visit while walking around the port and town.
There's a long staircase, which is a bit of a challenge.
But at the top, you can see a magnificent shrine.
If you don't want to climb the stairs, you can access it from the road on the south side, which is much easier, although you'll still have to walk.
The garden is quite well-maintained; it really makes you think this island is well-off.
The staircase was longer than I expected, but when I saw the shrine grounds at the top, I truly felt that it was worth coming.
As the largest shrine on the island, it had a solemn atmosphere that made the air feel serene.
Surrounded by the sea, the contrast with the expansive landscape was also beautiful.
This shrine has been worshipped since ancient times as the guardian shrine of the Ieshima Islands.
It has a history of being designated an official shrine in 840 AD, and is considered a prestigious shrine listed in the Engishiki (an ancient Japanese legal code).
Furthermore, it is said that the shrine grounds are surrounded by the island's only primeval forest, and the quiet space where nature and the shrine blend together is one of its charms.
Climbing the stairs while feeling the sea breeze made me a little breathless, but each step felt like a sacred moment, and the fatigue somehow became a pleasant memory.
It's a shrine I'd like to visit again at sunset.
While walking with a friend, I happened to meet the chief priest, who told me about Ieshima and the shrine as a whole.
It's apparently the highest-ranking shrine in Himeji, and there's still virgin forest surrounding it.
It can be accessed from both the mountain side and the sea side, so it's fun to enjoy both views on the way there and back. The nearby Shimizu Park also has beautiful views, so I recommend visiting both.
