Hiroshima｜The largest wooden building on Miyajima, the Senjokaku, which has not been completed for 400 years, shows the rise and fall of Miyajima

It would be a pity to only visit Iwashima Shrine when you go to Miyajima. There is a Senjokaku on the hillside. It is the size of 857 たたみ, so it is called Senjokaku. It is made entirely of wood and is the largest wooden building in Miyajima. It looks a bit like Kiyomizu-dera Temple. From Senjokaku you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sea. The story begins with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who in 1587 ordered the official monk Ankokuji Keiji to build a large sutra hall and recite sutras a thousand times every month to pray for the souls of the soldiers who lost their lives in the war. But later Toyotomi Hideyoshi died suddenly and the construction was suspended. More than 400 years have passed and it has still not been completed. It should be an unfinished building today, but it has formed its unique charm. Not only is the top of the shrine still unfinished, the ceiling is also in an unfinished state. But in the Edo period, Senjokaku was already a place for officials and celebrities to socialize and cool off. On the large pillars inside, there are engraved the names of Kabuki actors from the Edo period and the name of the Thousand Dragon Tree. There are also many paintings with historical traces hanging on the wall. The admission fee is very cheap at only 100 yen, so don't forget to stop by when you visit Iwashima Shrine. 📍Address: 1-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588 Japan 🚗Miyajima Pier is a 10-minute walk away #MarchGoodPlaces2025