Go’o Shrine
The Go’o Shrine 『護王神社』is an Art Project designed by photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, erected circa 1998 on the island of Naoshima. It is a re-interpretation of a style of Shinto Shrine architecture.
The name Go’o means something like “Protector King”. Pronunciation: The two “O”s are separated by a slight pause and the first one is short (as in got) while the second one is long (sounds like the “oa” in Oar).
The glass steps lead up to to the structure in which the deity is believed to reside.
The steps also continue down through the white rocks into an underground cave bringing daylight with them. This underground space is surreal and more than worth the entry ticket price.
The Go’o shrine is located on a wooded hill in the port village of Honmura – see small clearing in green area near bottom of map below.
For more about Shinto Shrines see Wikipedia’s article.
Honmura
The village of Honmura is a fishing village with a small harbour for the typical small fishing boats.
A day spent wandering the narrow streets on foot delivers many glimpses into Japanese culture. There is a series of Art Projects open to the public – tickets available at the “Honmura Lounge & Archive”.
