There is this attraction in the middle of Saga Prefecture, away from any major highway and city center that is gathering a rather lot of attention these days. It is called Oouo Shrine and a site that I have visited many times because of its uniqueness and incredible scenery it possesses.
The Shrine has 3 Torii gates that are strategically placed from the shoreline out into the picturesque and highly productive seaweed producing Ariake Sea. At high tide all 3 gates are covered with water at various depths, whilst at low tide one can wander around and fully inspect each Torii Gate and get a feel of what a 6 meter tidal range really means from an environmental and nature point of view.
Although I have been here 3 or 4 times previously for some reason it is always at low tide. Not that I am complaining because low tide obviously allows for more exploring and a chance to stretch ones legs after a drive of some sorts from the previous attraction. However for comparison sake, I would love to have some high tide photos and videos because in reality one doesn`t know what kind of tide that they will get on the day so we just have to take the results in our stride.
Just in case you were wondering, even though this location is getting more and more popular, don`t worry, you will never feel crowded or unable to find a car park. As a result of its very rural location hardly more than a trickle of sightseers and or cameramen are here at any onetime.
Please look here to see the Oouo Shrine on a map:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
Plenty of shells to observe.
Offerings a plenty
A truly scenic spot
An instagrammers paradise
Wide open coastline
Impressive!
The 3 red gates.
At low tide!
Please click on the videos below to see more about this incredible attraction.
By the way, this is what Oouo Shrine looks like on a high tide visit. It is basically the luck of timing whether you get to walk out and explore the Torii Gates or whether you have to be satisfied with taking photos at the watewrs edge. All I can say, is that, no matter what tide you get this place is extremely special especially on a perfect weather day.
The One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki City (gate entrance of a Shrine) is well known as one of the unanticipated consequences of the atomic bomb blast on August 9, 1945. The epicenter of the bomb's destructive force was located approximately 800 meters from the Shrine and as a result, one support column was knocked down but the other somehow remained standing, even though it was rotated about 30 degrees on its pedestal base, and facing another direction than its original position.
Just to stand here now and see the remnants of the bomb and its effects on Nagasaki makes one realized how significant life really is. "The One-Legged Torii bears the scars of traumas past and still stands with determination" is a famous quote I once heard that really resonates with me and provides me inspiration whenever I am going through a tough time and need to re-evaluate what is really important in life.
The One Legged Torii Gate a real find and a place that pictures just don't do justice. A little word of warning though, the actual location is situated above the road level and quite an amount of stair climbing is involved in getting to the place in point.
Pictures can be taken from below and will give you a sense of the power of the atomic explosion all those years ago but of course to get up close and personal and to touch the monument will give you so much more of a connection. You will just have to conserve the amount of stairs you climb during the day and save them all up for the last and biggest climb of them all, you won't be disappointed!
Our Private Nagasaki and Shimabara Tours nearly always visits this site at the end of the day before returning to the Nagasaki Port which is only 10 minutes away.
Check out the One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki on this map below:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Lots of stairs
Great story
In all its glory
Still standing
Destroyed column
English info
Please check out the One Legged Torii Gates in the videos below:
