Takaya Shrine
Takaya Shrine stands on the peak of the 404-meter Mt. Inazumi, from where it overlooks the coastal city of Kanonji. This Shinto shrine has more than a thousand years of history; it is mentioned in the Engishiki, a compilation of regulations and procedures completed in 927 CE. The shrine’s current buildings, however, are of less interest than its bulky stone torii (shrine gate), which was erected in 2009 to replace an old wooden gate that once stood on the same spot. The torii occupies the most picturesque location on the mountain, functioning as a frame for the impressive view over Kanonji and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea in the distance. A recently constructed road has made Takaya Shrine accessible by car, but active visitors can choose to walk to the sanctuary instead. The climb from the shrine’s lower hall (gegu), located at the foot of the mountain, takes about an hour and ends with a steep 270-step stone approach leading up to the torii.