torii

Torii are traditional Japanese gates that mark the entrance to Shinto shrines and other sacred spaces. Typically consisting of two vertical posts connected by one or two horizontal crosspieces, a torii signals the transition from the secular to the sacred. The most common styles are the shinmei torii, with a straight upper lintel, and the myōjin torii, which features a curved kasagi and an additional crosspiece.

Most torii are wooden and painted vermilion with a black upper crossmember, though stone, metal, and concrete versions exist. Some torii remain unpainted, particularly in rural settings or garden contexts. The gate’s silhouette is defined by the upper lintel (kasagi) and a secondary crosspiece (nuki), and torii can be found as single gates or in long rows, the latter especially at Inari shrines where thousands of gates line the path.

Functionally, torii mark the boundary of sacred space and serve as focal points for visitors and worshippers. Gates are often funded by donors, with inscriptions naming contributors, and a proliferation of gates can reflect community reverence or sponsorship by merchants and organizations.

Notable examples include the vermilion torii at Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, famed for appearing to float at high tide, and the extensive corridor of torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, which is donated by many worshippers and businesses. Torii gates are widely recognized symbols of Shinto in Japan and remain a common decorative and ceremonial element across shrines nationwide.