Torii - where the birds reside - are gateways at the entrance of Shinto shrines. They are made of wood, stone or sometimes iron. The wooden torii are usually painted in red.
Giant torii to Heian Shrine, Kyoto
At Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine, thousands of torii are lined up in a tunnel - simply spectacular.
Torri at Inari Shrine, Kyoto
Entrance to the torii tunnel, Inari Shrine, Kyoto
The unforgettable torii tunnel, Inari Shrine, Kyoto
By far the most symbolic of them all is the torii at Miyajima Island. At high tide, the torii appears to be arising from the sea, giving it a mystical dimension. This photo was taken in December 2008.
