A fire destroyed the Reikado Hall on Miyajima Island on Thursday, burning the Buddhist structure to the ground [1].
The loss of the hall is a significant cultural blow because it housed an eternal flame linked to the Buddhist saint Kukai. This flame was said to have been continuously lit for more than 1,200 years [2].
The blaze occurred on May 21, 2026 [3]. Local firefighters received the emergency call at approximately 8:30 a.m. [4]. The structure is located in Hatsukaichi city, within the Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan [1].
Emergency crews responded to the site on the island, but the hall was completely consumed by the flames [5]. The cause of the fire has not been established. While some reports indicate the hall was destroyed, there are conflicting accounts regarding the status of the eternal flame itself. One report said the flame was salvaged and moved to a different site, while other video reports focused on the destruction of the building without confirming the flame's survival [2, 5].
Reikado Hall is a key spiritual site on Miyajima Island, often visited by pilgrims and tourists. The island is known for its sacred sites and its proximity to Mount Misen [1]. The destruction of the hall removes a physical landmark of the region's long Buddhist history, a history that spans over a millennium.
“The Reikado Hall on Miyajima Island burned to the ground Thursday morning.”
The destruction of Reikado Hall represents a loss of tangible heritage for the followers of the saint Kukai. Because the site is a primary attraction on Miyajima Island, the event may impact local religious tourism and necessitate a long-term restoration project to preserve the spiritual legacy of the eternal flame.
