shrine

shrine1, originally uploaded by amakusavibe.

Shrines accessible only by boat dot the shoreline here and there, reflecting the local people's dependence on the sea. They give the coastal scenery a decidedly oriental flavor. Reflecting the more or less pagan Shinto tradition, they are built in locales thought to be inhabited by the various natural gods. As such, they make for interesting stopping points for the itinerant kayaker, though landing on the rocky shoreline is not always easy.