Okinawa, Japan | Futenmangu Shrine, one of the Eight Great Shrines – A sacred cave site where prayers gather

Even more remarkable is the connection behind Futenmangu Shrine to the Okumiya Caves. This ancient ontaki, considered a place where the gods descended, was once practiced and prayed within. Today, visitors are still permitted to enter and experience its tranquility, subject to regulations. However, photography is prohibited within the caves—for the sacred is not captured in images but preserved in the heart. Here, reverence is not merely a gesture but a form of humility toward heaven and earth, nature, and history. As you emerge from the caves and gaze back at the vermilion torii gate, you'll realize that this faith transcends religious formality and is an unwavering force in life.