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All Japan Ise Meoto Iwa

Meoto Iwa

This pair of small sea rocks has been "wed" using rope and ancient Shinto tradition.

Ise, Japan

Added By
Joshua Foer
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Meoto Iwa   donuts head on Flickr
Meoto Iwa   donuts head on Flickr
Meoto Iwa   Stefan Lins
  投稿者/Wikimedia
  Loretahur/Flickr
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located just off the shore of Futami, Japan, a pair of oceanic rock stacks have come to represent a holy union that created the spirits of the world in the Shinto faith. 

The two rocks, known as Izanagi and Izanami respectively, are together called Meoto Iwa and are connected at all times by a thick rope that tethers the lovers together. The stones are seen as a representation of paired dualities, hence the outcroppings have gained nicknames such as the "lover's rocks" and the "wedded rocks." 

Physically, the stones are not remarkably large, with the larger of the two (Izanagi) standing just nine meters tall and the smaller one (Izanami) just over three meters. However, the key feature of the site is the shimenawa, a thick rope made of rice straw that has been braided in a specific way that is sacred to the Shinto religion. The huge rope wraps around both rocks and is said to weigh at least a ton. The cord is continually eroded by sea water and the elements, but it replaced three times a year in a special ceremony.

Meoto Iwa is also near to a Shinto food shrine in which frogs are an important symbol, so in addition to the calming wonder of the wedded stones, visitors are also surrounded by curious looking frogs.       

Related Tags

Rocks Natural Wonders Shrines Geology Nature
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Added By

Josh

Edited By

Allison, EricGrundhauser, Fred Cherrygarden

  • Allison
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Fred Cherrygarden

Published

December 23, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/02/meoto-iwa-wedded-rocks.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meoto_Iwa
Meoto Iwa
575 Futamichoe
Ise, 519-0602
Japan
34.508964, 136.787857
Get Directions

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Photo of Ise

Ise

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