<p>Buddhist statue with a dramatic mountainous background at the Exile Cemetery</p>

Buddhist statue with a dramatic mountainous background at the Exile Cemetery (Photo: Hannah Bambra)

Niijima: Shrine and Cemetery

The relics of an island used for 200 years for exile

Hannah Bambra Jan 15, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Buddhist statue with a dramatic mountainous background at the Exile Cemetery</p>

<p>Exile Cemetery</p>

<p>Gates of the exile cemetery</p>

<p>Main edo-period structure of the Exile Cemetery</p>

<p>tombs, Exile Cemetery</p>

<p>Exile Cemetery</p>

<p>green mountains behind old wooden entrance to Jusansha Shrine</p>

<p>Main edo-period element of the Jusansha Shrine</p>

<p>temple bells</p>

<p>Jusansha Shrine</p>

During the Edo period, academics, scholars and even Buddhist monks were exiled as political prisoners to Niijima. Behind the cemetery itself is Jusansha Shrine, hundreds of years old and erected in honour of the Izu island's 13 gods. Buddhism meets beaches as the island's unique and surreal exile cemetery and shrine provide an insight into the now relaxed surfer region in its bygone era.

Hannah Bambra

Hannah Bambra @hannah.bambra

An Australian looking to write, explore and discover.