A guide to recognizing Shrines and Temples

The two main religions practiced in Japan are Shinto and Buddhism. Most of the Japanese people don't identify themselves with one particular religion and participate in all kinds of rituals. The presence of those coexisting religions is visible in every Japanese city, town, village, district or even street. The places for practising Shinto are Shrines, while Buddhist rituals take place in Buddhist temples and are easy to distinguish just like a church and a mosque.

Shinto is a religion that originated in Japan in ancient times. Its main beliefs consider the spirits called kami, to be present in such elements of nature as stones, mountains, trees, waterfalls. The most famous object of this kind is the Fuji mountain. Shinto traditions are usually cultivated in shrines when it comes to blessing children, weddings or success in business.

Buddhism, which has its beginnings in India, was brought to Japan from China and Korea around the 6th century. Japanese people, usually meditate or pray in Buddhist temples. What is more, funeral ceremonies in Japan are held mostly in Buddhist temples.

The main features of Shinto shrines:

* overload of red color, which expels demons and illnesses

* most often, small shrines are collected in a big complex

* torii - one large red gate, usually followed by many more similar gates

* komainu - a couple of dogs or lions by the entrance gate

* temizuya - ablution place at the entrance for washing mouth and hands

* kami - statues representing particular spirits and holy animals

* ema- wooden plaques with people's prayers hanging on the wall


The main features of Buddhist temples in Japan:

* larger than shrines

* always containing a statue of Buddha and a place to burn incense or candles

* paper lanterns and paper decoration at the entrance

* a pagoda - a kind of reliquary for storing sacred elements

* zen garden

* nearby cemetery

Things that shrines and temples in Japan have in common:

* omikuji - small fortune telling papers, tied over tree branches after reading to make the fortune come true (if good) or to avert it (if bad).


The most recognizable shrines and temples of Japan:

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, famous for the countless torii - red gates, that cover the hiking trails of the mountain InariSan.

Todaiji ("Great Eastern Temple") in Nara, the world's largest wooden building. Reconstructed in 1692 is only two thirds of the original temple's size.

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a Buddhist Zen temple in Kyoto.