A historic Buddhist hall on Japan’s sacred Miyajima island was destroyed by fire on 21 May, although the revered “eternal flame” housed inside was successfully rescued and moved to another site.

Reikado Hall, located near the summit of Mount Misen in Hiroshima Prefecture, had long been home to a flame that Buddhist leaders say has burned continuously for more than 1,200 years. According to tradition, the fire was first lit by the ninth-century Buddhist monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism.

The blaze engulfed the wooden structure on Wednesday morning, reducing much of the building to ashes. The authorities reported that no injuries occurred. The Daisho-in temple, which oversees Reikado Hall, confirmed afterward that the sacred flame had been salvaged and relocated safely.

“We have received many messages of sympathy,” the temple said in a public statement. “Thank you for your concern.” (The New York Times) The temple also stated that efforts to rebuild the hall would begin immediately.

The fire marks the second major destruction of Reikado Hall in recent decades. The previous structure burned in 2005 after a fire accidentally ignited during cleanup work following a typhoon. The building had been reconstructed after that incident.

According to local fire officials, emergency responders received a call shortly after 8:30 a.m. reporting flames at the mountaintop site. The fire was brought under control roughly two hours later.

Tetsuya Kotaki of the Hatsukaichi fire department explained that the isolated location complicated firefighting efforts. “The response team had to bring hoses from the bottom of the hill,” he said. “The temple had a fire prevention water tank but the team used it up quickly.” (The New York Times)

Mount Misen rises approximately 535 meters above sea level on Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, a small island regarded as one of Japan’s most sacred pilgrimage destinations. The island is widely associated with both Shinto and Buddhist traditions and is home to the famed Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its “floating” torii gate.

The eternal flame carries deep religious and symbolic meaning within Japanese Buddhism. Water boiled over the flame in an iron kettle has traditionally been believed to possess healing properties and to bring good fortune to pilgrims and visitors.

Shingon Buddhism, founded by Kukai in the early Heian period, remains one of Japan’s major esoteric Buddhist schools. Kukai is revered not only as a religious teacher but also as a scholar, poet, and cultural figure whose influence on Japanese Buddhism continues today. Many devotees regard Mount Misen as a site where Kukai practiced ascetic meditation.

Japan’s historic temples and shrines remain especially vulnerable to fire because many are constructed primarily of wood and other traditional materials such as bark and thatch. Several notable religious fires have occurred in recent months.

Earlier this month, a fire at Daiho-ji Temple in northern Japan damaged 13 buildings, reportedly after beginning in a kitchen area. In April, another blaze destroyed the Atago Shrine in the port city of Niigata. The authorities have not yet determined the cause of that fire.

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the Reikado Hall fire.

The preservation of the eternal flame despite the destruction of the hall has drawn widespread public attention in Japan and abroad, with many Buddhists expressing relief that the symbolic heart of the site survived the disaster.

See more

‘Eternal Flame’ Still Burns After Fire That Destroyed Buddhist Hall in Japan (The New York Times)
Buddhist hall housing ‘eternal flame’ burns down in Japan (Al Jazeera)
Buddhist shrine with “eternal flame” burning for 1200 years burns down in Japan (Nasa Niva)
Kukai-Linked Sacred Hall on Miyajima Burns Down (Nippon.com)
Hall linked to Buddhist saint Kukai burns down on Miyajima (The Japan Times)

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