Ashikaga Takauji donated a collection of 33 poems to the temple in 1336, thanking the gods for military success. The collection is still here today, registered as an Important Cultural Property.
The hall has been destroyed by fire twice in recent decades (2005 and 2026), but monks managed to rescue and preserve the eternal flame both times.
The sacred flame here has burned continuously for 1,200 years since Kūkai lit it in the 9th century. It was used to light the Flame of Peace at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Water boiled in the large tea kettle over the eternal flame appears brownish like tea, but the color comes from dissolved iron in the kettle, not tea leaves.
This shrine honors Taira no Kiyomori, the powerful 12th-century leader who transformed Itsukushima Shrine into the architectural marvel visitors see today when he served as governor of Aki Province in 1168.
Unlike the famous floating torii nearby, Kiyomori Shrine sits quietly on the beach, offering one of the best views of Miyajima's iconic gate without the crowds that gather at Itsukushima Shrine itself.
Visitors often overlook this small shrine while rushing between major attractions, yet it provides a peaceful respite where you can reflect on the legacy of the nobleman who shaped Miyajima's destiny 850 years ago.