Miyajima

Miyajima is a an island not far away from Hiroshima. It is famous for its large Tori-Gate, that you can visit while the ebb is active. Right behind it, is the Itsukushima-Shrine. Both have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage. It was one of my favourite places to visit. The island has a lot of halls, shrines and even one pagoda. While you can enjoy the local street food like clams, grilled squid and fish cake, there are wild deer running around. You are not allowed to feed them though, but they are very used to tourists. If you own the JR-Pass you can reach the island by ferry.

If you were wondering why some statues wear caps. Those are Jizo statues. Some even where bibs like babies. Parents who have lost their children take good care of Jizo images, as though they were their lost children. I also found an interesting guide to Jizo.

Jizo, protector of travelers: Jizo is the first deity most people encounter when they set foot in Japan. This is because he is the protector of travelers. You’ll find Jizo peeking out among the grasses along the road, standing at intersections, overseeing borders, or sitting in a wooden shelter built especially for him. Jizo is at temples too, where sometimes he holds a baby in his arms. He is found at boundaries between places both physical and spiritual, between here and there, life and death.

Jizo, protector of children: Jizo takes care of the souls of unborn children and those who die at a young age. Children “in limbo” in Japan are said to go to a place called sai no kawara, where they must create piles of stones into small towers. But every night the stone towers are destroyed by demons, so the next day the children must make new piles of stones. The making of these towers is to help their parents accrue merit for their own afterlife. This is why you sometimes see stray stones that have been made into little towers alongside Jizo statues. People make them for the souls of these children, to help them achieve their goals. People also leave toys, candy or fruit as offerings at the base of Jizo statues.

Women also pray to Jizo for fertility and easy childbirth. Some temples sell amulets for this purpose.