A fire completely destroyed Reikado Hall, a historic Buddhist site on Miyajima Island in western Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan [1].
The loss of the centuries-old structure [2] represents a significant cultural blow, as it housed a sacred "eternal flame" linked to the monk Kūkai [1].
Reikado Hall was part of the larger Daishoin Temple complex [1]. The site served as the physical home for a flame that had been burning continuously for nearly 1,200 years [1]. According to reports, the flame was first lit in the year 806 [1].
The fire occurred on a Wednesday and was reported on July 10, 2024 [1]. The blaze left the structure entirely destroyed, ending the physical presence of the hall that protected the ancient fire [1].
Miyajima Island is a prominent destination for both religious pilgrimage and tourism. The Daishoin Temple is one of the most significant spiritual sites in the region, making the total loss of the hall a major event for the local community and Buddhist practitioners [1].
Authorities have not yet released a cause for the blaze [1]. Efforts to assess the damage to the surrounding temple complex continue as officials determine the next steps for the site [1].
“The eternal flame had been burning continuously for nearly 1,200 years”
The destruction of Reikado Hall highlights the vulnerability of Japan's ancient wooden architectural heritage to fire. Because the site was tied to the monk Kūkai and a flame dating back to 806, the loss is not merely structural but spiritual, removing a physical link to the early Heian period of Japanese Buddhism.
