Horai Islands - Isles of the Immortals

Sometimes there is a special isle named horai-jima (Elysian isle, or Island of the Immortals), in shape of a tortoise with stones for the head, four legs and the tail, planted with pine trees. As the Elysian island is supposed to be in mid-ocean, it is never connected to the bank with any bridge. In many instances, a rock or a group of rocks is placed in the water to suggest an island.