This afternoon, I visited Takeshima Island, off the coast of Gamagori, which is a short train ride from my home city of Toyohashi. The island is tiny - it is possible to walk all the way around it in just half an hour - but it is home to over 238 species of temperate plant species. The island was declared a national natural treasure in 1930.
A 387 metre long bridge links Takeshima Island to the mainland. Just before the bridge meets the island, it passes beneath a stone torii and I've read that this is the only place in Japan where a bridge runs through a torii gate.
No one lives on Takeshima Island. The only building is the Yaotomi Shrine at the very top of the island. The shrine is dedicated to Benzaiten, goddess of music, eloquence, wealth and good fortune. She is also one of Japan's "Seven Lucky Gods", whom I mentioned in a previous post.
The shrine was founded by Fujiwara no Shunzei in 1181 and it is said that worshipping at the shrine will provide good luck in marriage and childbirth. Since I'm due to become an uncle in the next few months, I'm hoping that Benzaiten's blessings will reach halfway around the world to my brother and his wife.
No comments:
Post a Comment