Around 3,000 islands dot the Seto Inland Sea<br />, also dubbed the ‘Mediterranean of Japan’. It’s a region rich in art, natural beauty, tradition and religious heritage, all of which make it one the country’s most popular tourist attractions. <br /><br />Since ancient times the island of Miyajima has been worshipped as a holy place of Shintoism. Even today it’s a source of spirituality, epitomized in the the stunning floating gate, the Torii, as Shinto priest Michinori Fukuda explained: “From this gate we enter a sacred place. As this sanctuary, Itsukushima, is located on the sea, in the past people would come through the gate, the Torii, by boat to get here.”<br /><br />The present Shinto shrine dates back to the 12th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. For centuries ordinary people weren’t allowed to set foot on Miyajima. <br /><br />“As the whole island was considered sacred, it was worshipped. Therefore it wasn’t possible to live on the island, nor to build houses,” said Michinori Fukuda.<br /><br />Our journey thro
