This is the Romon (two-storied gate) of Kashima Jingu Shrine with the morning sun shining on it. I took this picture during my early morning run in June.
The Romon of Kashima Jingu Shrine is designated as a National Important Cultural Property and is an extremely valuable structure, counted as one of Japan's three great Romon gates, along with Hakozaki-gu Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture and Aso Shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture. Incidentally, the character "ro" in "Romon" is said to mean "a tall, imposing building."
After passing through the great torii gate and entering the sacred precincts filled with a spiritual atmosphere, this Romon gate comes into view straight ahead. This gate, with its strikingly beautiful vermilion lacquer, was built in 1634 by Tokugawa Yorifusa, the first lord of the Mito Domain, and stands 13 meters tall.
The day I took this photo, "Tensha Nichi" (Tensha Day) and "Ichiryu Manbai Nichi" (Ichiryu Manbai Day) overlapped, which is considered very auspicious on the calendar. Tensha Nichi is said to be the best auspicious day when heaven forgives all sins, and Ichiryu Manbai Nichi means that a single grain of rice will yield ten thousand times its harvest, making it a suitable day to start something new.
Perhaps because it was such a lucky day, I was able to take this refreshing photograph.
Text and photo by: Jo (Sales Team)
Kashima Jingu Shrine
2306-1 Miyachu, Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture
TEL 0299-82-1209
http://kashimajingu.jp/