Water covers the underpinnings of this large Torii, and when the tide comes in, it gives the appearance of floating on the water. The Torii faces the Shinto shrine Itsukushima located in the cove. It is composed of a group of buildings built on pilings so that they too "float" at neap tide. The shrine and much of the town were destroyed in a typhoon in 1997; reconstruction is still going on. Miyajima Island is small, 12 sq. miles. There are a number of associated shrines around the island including some on the highest peak, Misan San, 1700 Ft. high.