Torii are usually reddish or orange portals made up of two vertical pillars connected by a horizontal beam that surround Shinto shrines in Japan. These portals are famous worldwide and aesthetically pleasing, becoming a symbol of Japanese culture.
The torii [鳥居] are placed near lakes, forests, in the city, and even in the sea alongside the more than 90,000 Shinto shrines and temples found in Japan. Some are placed in rows and fill even mountains, resembling a portal to another world.
In this article, we will see the 5 largest portals in Japan, as well as their meanings and architecture. We will look at the most popular, the largest, and the most notable in Japan.
Table of Contents
Meaning and origin of a torii
The torii is an architectural ornament that represents the passage from the world to a sacred place. This portal marks the sacred entrance to a Shinto shrine or temple.
The name torii [鳥居] literally means dwelling of birds. This makes perfect sense, as birds often perch on these usually reddish wooden portals. The Japanese believe that birds assist the deities.
Buddhist temples can also have a portal usually marked with the Buddhist swastika. This is understandable, as Buddhist temples often have a Shinto shrine on the same site. The two religions coexist in Japan.
The exact origin of these portals is not known. Some theories claim that it was an indigenous invention, while others say it was imported from other countries. Other cultures like China and Korea also use similar portals, each with its own characteristics.
A torii is usually red because the Japanese claim that this color has the power to ward off diseases. There are torii made of stone, bronze, and other materials as well, but the most common is to find red wooden portals.
Portals spread throughout the cities of Japan
We know that the portals mark the entrance to a sacred place, but why do we find various portals scattered in the large cities of Japan with no shrine nearby?
Generally, when there is a portal, you will find a shrine nearby, even if it is very small. However, some portals scattered throughout the city serve only as a warning for people not to litter or urinate in the area.
Others also use these portals simply for their architecture and tradition. They can also be placed to mark the entrance to imperial locations and some castles that usually have a shrine somewhere.
These torii can be found in various sizes, including a size so small that it can be placed on a table and where no one can pass underneath. These portals can be sold and have a name carved with the aim of bringing good luck to the user.
Floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine
The floating torii of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island is one of the most iconic tourist spots in Japan. It is also one of the oldest torii in Japan (although it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times).
The torii is placed slightly on the surface of the ocean to give the impression that it is floating. It looks dramatically different depending on the tide and the light. It is exactly in this place that one of the most popular photos of Japan is taken.
When the tide is high, the torii appears to be over the sea, but when the tide is low, the view becomes even more beautiful, revealing the sand and the clear water over the gate. We have already written an article talking about the Island of Miyajima.
Fushimi Inari – The mountain of torii
The torii is a typical construction of Shintoism, the main religion of Japan. These red gates represent the entrance to a sacred territory, and this structure usually attracts the attention of tourists and Japanese alike. Inari Mountain is filled with them, with an estimated more than 30,000 torii in the area.
Fushimi Inari is a mountain dedicated to the goddess Inari, responsible for business and other important matters. Businesspeople from all over the Kansai region go to Fushimi Inari to pray for worldly success.
Those who are successful often donate a torii to the shrine, which is not cheap at all. They also usually engrave their name (or the name of the company) on the torii. The shrine has thousands of portals, creating an exciting view.
The mountain is 233 meters above sea level. It has several trails that spread over 4 kilometers and takes about 2 hours to traverse the entire mountain.
The mountain is also famous for the thousands of small shrines and temples scattered throughout the area. In these places, you can often find some small torii, some fox statues, as well as shops and restaurants in the middle of the mountain.
I had the chance to visit this mountain and walk for hours through the thousands of torii that surround the mountain and the small shrines scattered in the corners. There are giant portals and very small ones.
I have already written an article about Fushimi Inari, but I will leave below a video of my walk on this incredible mountain located in the traditional and famous city of Kyoto, the former capital of Japan.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is the main Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, located at the base of the mountain. Inari is the goddess of rice, fertility, agriculture, foxes, and success and prosperity in business.
Some of these structures were built in 711, many are donated and built by successful businesspeople aiming for prosperity in business. Many people from all over the Kansai region or Japan often visit the site to pray for success in life. These torii are expensive, a small one usually costs around 400,000 yen and can easily exceed 1,000,000.
People also often make offerings with origami, miniatures of torii, or paper triangles shaped like a fox’s face. These items can be bought at an absurd price in the little shops that surround the entire mountain. The view of the place is unique and worth the effort to climb the mountain and have an interesting view of the forest and even Kyoto.
The floating portal of Hakone Shrine
The gate of Hakone Shrine is located on Lake Ashinoko near a large forest. On clear days, Mount Fuji appears behind the torii. Lake Ashinoko is a volcanic crater lake that always appears with a different color.
I visited Hakone and had the chance to photograph this large torii while riding the famous Pirate Ship that crosses the lake, taking people from the wonderful cable car to the two small villages that provide access to other places like hotels, onsens, and other cities.
Some Japanese portals may be different. There are models that have a rope tied to the surface called shimenawa instead of wood. There is also a torii with 3 base pillars instead of just two.
Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi Park
When visiting Meiji Shrine located in Shibuya Tokyo, you will see a gigantic wooden torii of imperial size. This gate is stamped with the chrysanthemum seal of the Emperor of Japan. Among shrines, this seal is a final status.
You can visit this shrine located in Yoyogi Park via Harajuku or Shibuya station. The park is huge, and you will find more than one portal while walking around. Be sure to take plenty of photos.
Japanese portals are divided into two families. The first are the portals that have a straight wooden top called Shinmei. The second family has a slightly curved top called Myojin.
Kumano Hongu Taisha – The Largest Torii in the World
Let’s finish the article by talking about the largest torii in the world located at the Kumano Hongu Taisha shrine in Hongu in Wakayama province. It is not very popular because it does not have a great story behind it and was recently built in 2000.
This is currently the largest torii in the world, measuring an incredible 40 meters in height and 42 meters in width, and it was also made of steel. Before the 2000s, the largest torii in the world was in Sakurai in Nara province.
I hope you enjoyed the article. If you liked it, don’t forget to share and leave your comments. What do you think of Japanese portals? Do you know any other interesting portal that you would like to share?
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