Aoshima - A shrine on a small island. - Adventures After Sixty

Another place that I thought was very special in Miyazaki was Aoshima Island and Aoshima Shrine. It was about a twenty minute walk down the beach from my hotel and across a pedestrian bridge. Aoshima is a very small island (measuring 1.5 km around) and the island is mostly taken up with the shrine and tropical plants.

One of the first things you will notice while crossing the bridge is the beautiful rock formations called Onino-Sentakuiwa (Devil’s Washboard). These are naturally formed rock formations along the coastline and Aoshima is one of the best spots in the area to view this natural wonder.

As you walk along the path, you will pass under this Torii gate which signifies entering the realm of the gods. Aoshima Island was once considered sacred and ordinary people were forbidden from entering the island until the Edo period. As you continue along the path, you will find yourself at the gates of Aoshima Shrine.

This was the first shrine in Japan that I have seen with so many tropical plants! There was a sign that told about how the Japan Current flows around Aoshima causing mild, rainy weather which allows sub-tropical plants to flourish. The sign also noted that there are 5,000 Biro palms, some of which are 350 years old, on this small island.

The view of the grounds from the main shrine gate felt like being in Hawaii.

At many temples and shrines in Japan you will see guardian statues at the entrance. They are usually identical with the exception of the mouth… one usually has an open mouth and one a closed mouth. In Okinawa, where they are plentiful, I was told that the closed mouth is female and keeps good in while the one with the open mouth is male and keeps evil away.

These statues have several different names. In English, they are often known as lion dogs, Fu dogs or Foo dogs. In Japanese they are called komainu 狛犬こまいぬ, and in Okinawa they are shīsā. There are versions of these in many Asian countries.

The views as I was leaving the shrine at sunset were so beautiful and peaceful. I think I walked a bit slower than usual not really wanting the evening to end. When I got back to my hotel, I sat out by the beach and soaked in the last few moments of of the sunset before I went inside.