According to Japanese media, Hatsukaichi city firefighters said the fire broke out at about 8:30 am on May 20 at Reikado Palace on Miyajima Island. The fire quickly burned down the main hall, spread to a shack of about 30 m2 and caught fire in the adjacent forest before being controlled after about two hours. The incident did not cause any casualties.
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. According to initial assessments, the "eternal flame" stored in the shrine may be the source of the fire leading to the incident.
After the fire, Daishoin Pagoda said that a dignitary had promptly moved the fire to another place for preservation.
Reikado Shrine is located near the summit of Misen Mountain and is the place that preserves the famous "eternal flame" of Japan. According to legend, the flame was lit by monk Kukai from 806 during the fire prayer ritual (goma) and has been maintained continuously for nearly 12 centuries.
This spiritual symbol was once used to light the "Fire of Peace" at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - the place commemorating the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing.
Not only carrying spiritual meaning, Reikado Palace is also a famous destination for couples. Many tourists come here to light candles from the "eternal flame" to pray for lasting love.
This is not the first time Reikado Palace has experienced a fire. According to Get Hiroshima, in 2005, this structure also caught fire due to flammable materials inside the palace catching fire. At that time, a monk promptly protected the fire.
The incident continues to raise concerns about fires at ancient spiritual structures in Japan. In just the first half of this year, many ancient temples in Ehime, Yamaguchi, Toyama, Mie and Niigata provinces experienced large fires, killing at least 6 people.
