What an amazing place. Truly a marvel of Japanese architecture and ingenuity. Toilets at the bottom and up at the shrine. They sell drinks at the top too. No wheelchair access to the shrines at the very top of the complex.
The steep slope and heat continue from the pier, but
the deer that greet you along the way give you a boost of energy (*^^*)
The island of the gods is known as one of the three major sacred sites of Oshu, and there's a legend that if you visit for three consecutive years, you'll never have to worry about money again. There were also pilgrimage rituals related to financial luck. There were several people lined up at each spot...
Since my time on the ferry was limited,
I regret not being able to go to the inner shrine, but I'll try again next year.
It seems there are no shortcuts to happiness ^_^
