Gateways to the Past and Future
In Japan, torii gates that commonly mark the entrances of shrines and temples are said to be gateways to the sacred world. Crossing them is to leave mundanity behind and take a step from the earthly realm toward a transcendent space. To travellers, setting foot in new landscapes can have a similar transporting effect. On a trip around central Japan, I found my own version of these gateways in the most unexpected places.
In the central region of
