One of Miyajima’s top views under scaffolding until October

The Kangen-sai Festival to be held this weekend on Miyajima will be one of the last opportunities to get an unsullied shot of yourself flashing the peace sign from Itsukushima’s hira-butai – the long wooden platform that extends from the main shrine building out over the water towards the O-torii floating shrine gate – as it undergoes restoration work.

The repairs to the open-air stage, which is designated as an “Annex to a National Treasure” follow 3 months of repair work on the eastern corridor of Itsukushima Shrine. Although the repairs will not affect access to the main shrine itself, scaffolding will obstruct the view of one of the most popular photo spots in the country and is sure to disppoint many of the thousands of tourists that will visit the shrine over the next 3 months.

Work will begin on July 14 after the annual Kangen-sai Festival and continue until October 14, in time for the peak tourist season in autumn when the leaves of the island’s maple trees to bright red.