Standard Torii Gate

The iconic vermilion gateway marking the boundary of the sacred/Ancient Structures

A torii gate is the traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, symbolically marking the transition from the mundane world to the sacred. The basic structure consists of two upright pillars topped by two horizontal crossbars, the upper one (kasagi) curving slightly upward at the ends. A standard torii in the most common myojin style stands about 3.4 meters tall and 3.6 meters wide. Torii are typically painted vermilion red, a color believed to ward off evil spirits. Japan has an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 torii gates nationwide across its 80,000 shrines.