By JUN UEDA/ Staff Writer
January 6, 2021 at 19:38 JST
Itsukushimajinja shrine’s famed "floating" torii gate is covered by scaffolding for massive preservation work in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, in December 2019. (Jun Ueda)
HATSUKAICHI, Hiroshima Prefecture--The famed torii gate serenely resting in the sea may no longer be clearly seen, but the repair structure surrounding it is going viral on social media for its fantastic “golden” appearance when illuminated.
“It looks like a golden citadel,” one online commenter wrote.
“The is a sight that can be seen only for now,” said another.
The gate, part of Itsukushimajinja shrine, is a World Heritage Site and a sought-after destination for tourists because it creates the breathtaking impression of elegantly “floating” over the water.
But the wooden gate has been constantly exposed to the elements since it was constructed in 1875, so it is now undergoing a massive amount of preservation work--the first such undertaking in about 70 years.
The project began two summers ago. Workers erected scaffolding around it to envelope the gate with a protective net.
The scaffolding will remain illuminated while the restoration work is in progress. Shrine officials said they do not know when the project will be completed.
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