Photo/Illutration The “torii gate in the sky” of Takayajinja shrine in Kanonji, Kagawa Prefecture, stands against the backdrop of a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea during an orange sunset on Sept. 5. (Toshiyuki Hayashi)

KANONJI, Kagawa Prefecture--Facing the Seto Inland Sea, this city is famous for Jinnein and Kannonji, the 68th and 69th temples of the 88 Shikoku pilgrimage route.

It is also home to Ariakehama, a 2-kilometer stretch of sand once touted as “the Orient’s No. 1 swimming beach,” attracting many beachgoers in summer.

But now, Kanonji city has something new to offer: the “torii gate in the sky” of the “hongu” main building of Takayajinja shrine that sits atop 404-meter-high Mount Inazumiyama.

It attracts tens of thousands of people each year to the city, which has a population of 56,000, according to an estimate by the local tourism association.

The Shinto gate made with whitish rocks comes into view after a 50-minute walk along a 1.5-km trail from the “gegu” sub-shrine at the foot of the mountain.

The roadway leading to the main building has been closed to traffic since June due to falling rocks.

The torii awaits after walking up a 270-step stone stairway.

When seen from the hongu building, the torii stands against the backdrop of the clear-blue waters of the Seto Inland Sea and sprawling urban areas.

“You can enjoy a view of the torii as if it is floating in the air,” said Kenzo Gomi, 66, who serves as head of parishioners for the shrine.

It is said that the shrine's history dates back to long ago.

A signboard explains that it was moved from the mountaintop to a spot halfway up the mountain in or around 1600 before it was relocated to the foot of the mountain.

The main building was built again atop the mountain in 1831.

However, the gate is of modern construction, having been added in 2009.

For the past several years, it has been a popular topic on social media as a stunning scenic spot.

It gained further attention in 2018 when the torii gate was designated as one of the Shikoku 88 View Spots by an organization comprised of the Shikoku Economic Federation and private companies.

A group of three male college students in their teens and 20s from Kyoto Prefecture said they felt a sense of achievement as they enjoyed the stunning scenery after climbing the mountain.

According to the tourism association, the city was also used as a locale in a popular anime series titled “Yuki Yuna is a Hero,” with the torii also shown in the story.

It has become increasingly popular as a “holy place” for anime fans from around the country who visit real-life locations featured in their favorite title.

“It is a really important tourism resource for us, and we want to raise its profile to attract more visitors,” an official said.

Related News