Skip to content

Our blog

Last news about Asian antiques and Buddha images

Primary Menu
  • HOME
  • Sample Page
  • Home
  • Uncategorized
  • How to visit Japan’s shrines and temples—with respect

How to visit Japan’s shrines and temples—with respect

azibaza2 2023-12-21 6 min read

Over the centuries, the Indigenous Shinto religion and Buddhism, imported from India by way of China, gained prominence in Japan at different times. From the beginning, beliefs intermingled, creating what’s now called shinbutsu shugo. Then, from the end of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th, government policy sought to split the two in an effort to elevate Shinto.

Traces of this history can still be seen all over Japan, from Buddha statues hidden in Shinto shrines in response to Meiji policy, to Shinto imagery at Buddhist temples. In many places, Shinto and Buddhism, with their associated structures, shrines and temples respectively, share the same sacred grounds. Today, there are about 80,000 shrines and 77,000 temples in the country. 

As travel to Japan surpasses pre-pandemic levels, visitors who know just a bit of this context can more deeply appreciate these sacred sites. Here are some key histories, symbols, and etiquette to keep in mind to ensure a respectful and enriching visit.

Look out for these features

How do you tell if you’re at a temple or a shrine? The clue is in the name: temples often have the suffix “寺” (-ji or -tera) or “院” (-in), while shrines usually use “神社” (-jinja) or “宮” (-miya or -gu). 

Torii, Sanmon and Romon gates: Both shrines and temples have gates. At the entrance to shrines is the torii, which stands open and consists of two posts and one or two upper lintels. At temples, the gate is called sanmon or romon, and is often more functional in that they can be closed. “Both torii and sanmon serve as barriers, symbolically separating the secular world from the sacred realm,” says Toyohiko Ikeda, head priest at Sugawara Shrine in Machida, Tokyo.

Shimenawa: At shrines, you may see a shimenawa, a rope made from rice straw or hemp and accented with paper zigzag. “Its presence signifies that the enclosed area is in a sacred and pure state,” says Takeyoshi Nagai, head priest of Hibita Shrine in Isehara, Kanagawa. But shimenawa are not limited to shrines. You may have seen them on an especially impressive rock in the forest, or even wrapped around sumo wrestlers, especially the yokozuna, or highest ranked wrestlers. “This tradition is believed to be a way for the yokozuna, who perform the stomp before entering the ring, to dispel evil spirits.”

Komainu and Nio guardians: What of the fierce guardians in front of both shrines and temples? At shrines, more often you’ll find komainu, or lion-dogs, while at temples, you’ll likely find Nio statues, fearful warrior types. “Komainu and Nio statues have the role of warding off malevolent forces attempting to enter,” says Ikeda. Both kinds of guardians are usually depicted with one of the pair having an open mouth and the other with a closed mouth, symbolizing the vocalization of “aum.”

Bells: Inside temple grounds you’ll sometimes find a bell tower containing a large bronze bell. “In the old days, when there were no clocks in every home, the bells were used to tell the time to local people,” says Kohei Uchida, the head monk at Shingyoji in Matsue, Shimane. The bells are also used to call monks to prayer. If you visit at temple at midnight on New Year’s Eve, you might hear the “Joya no kane,” the ringing of the bell 108 times to symbolize letting go of the 108 earthly desires and approaching the new year with a pure heart. 

Except for shimenawa and torii, versions of these features were all imported from abroad, though of course each culture’s version has its own unique flavor.

Approaching sacred spaces as a traveler

Regardless of religion, any traveler can visit both temples and shrines, says Uchida. However, there are some places that are off limits in both shrines and temples, often with sacred images or objects that are tended only by staff. Photography is frowned upon at some temples and shrines, and allowed in others. If in doubt, it’s best to check with the staff. In shrines, talking should be kept to a minimum, says Ikeda, though children up to the age of seven are considered divine and their making noise is generally acceptable. 

When approaching a temple or shrine, the center of the path is reserved for the gods, so mortals should keep to the edge of the walkway. At the gate, it’s customary to offer a greeting to the gods with a slight bow. Before entering the inner precinct, shrines and some temples have a temizuya, a small pavilion with sacred water for ritually cleansing your hands and mouth. Visitors should take care not to let any water they’ve touched go back into the basin, but rather let it run onto the ground. “This act is to cleanse the mind and body, as it is believed that without purification, the gods may not take notice of us,” says Ikeda. 

In both cases, non-adherents are welcome to pray, according to Uchida and Ikeda, though the method of prayer differs between temples and shrines. “First visit the main hall of the temple, where the principal image resides,” says Uchida. If there is incense, you can burn some, then place your hands together in silent prayer. At shrines, the ritual for prayer is to bow twice, clap twice, pray, and then bow once more.

But when it comes to visiting shrines or temples, there’s no need to choose. The mixing and matching are an integral part of the culture. 

“In Japan, people have cherished both Shinto and Buddhism alike,” says Nagai. “The innate connection to the natural world in Shinto and the structured practices of Buddhism found common ground, fostering a coexistence of the two belief systems.”

Shinto and Buddhism: blurred lines 

When Buddhism arrived in the 6th century, beliefs and rituals now known as Shinto were already in Japan. Shinto gods, called kami, include mythological creation gods, deities that control events like rain and rice harvests, as well as spirits that inhabit objects and animals. Evidence of these Indigenous practices, though diffuse, can be traced as far back as around 300 B.C.

Buddhism’s more organized doctrine brought the construction of temples, and Shinto shrines soon followed in their footsteps. 

Importantly, neither Buddhism nor Shinto inherently demands that its followers adhere to only one faith. “Shinto is an everyday faith woven into daily life,” says Ikeda. “Within the Buddhist teachings, there was a concept of salvation not found in Shinto.” 

This appealed to people, and as Buddhism spread, so did shinbutsu shugo, or the amalgamation of Shinto and Buddhism. In some cases, kami were explained as Buddhas in “disguise,”  says Erik Schicketanz, professor of religious studies specializing in Buddhism at Kokugakuin University. 

In other cases, kami were recruited as protectors of temples and monasteries, which is why you often see shrines and temples side by side, or even within the same compound. Tokyo’s most famous temple, Sensoji, is an example of this, says Schicketanz. “Right next to Sensoji is the Asakusa Jinja. And that is not by coincidence, because until 1868 they were the same thing.”

1868 brought the Meiji Restoration, a new government in pursuit of a pure national identity. They rolled out a policy of shinbutsu bunri, or the separation of Shinto from Buddhism, and an attempt to elevate Shinto as a state religion. 

The legal separation continued until 1945, and in that time, Shinto grew as an overall framework, says Schicketanz. During the period of separation, some temples and Buddhist images were destroyed, and monks were forced to give up their positions or become Shinto priests. Because of the policy of Shinto supremacy, it’s rarer to find Buddhist elements at shrines than vice versa. 

Nowadays, a significant number of people claim no specific religious affiliation, says Nagai. “However, for those who do express a religious belief, Buddhism and Shinto are often held in nearly equal regard.”

Continue Reading

Previous: How world’s largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia has been reborn – new rules free Borobudur from curses of vandalism, graffiti, bottles of urine
Next: Ancient statues unearthed at Ta Prohm temple in Cambodia’s Angkor park

Related Stories

World-renowned Buddha statues grace tranquil Vinh Trang Pagoda. Vietnam
3 min read

World-renowned Buddha statues grace tranquil Vinh Trang Pagoda. Vietnam

2025-05-31
Rare Chinese antiques sell for more than £130k
2 min read

Rare Chinese antiques sell for more than £130k

2025-05-29
British Museum displays a 2,000-year-old Buddha in exploration of Indian religions
2 min read

British Museum displays a 2,000-year-old Buddha in exploration of Indian religions

2025-05-22

Recent Posts

  • World-renowned Buddha statues grace tranquil Vinh Trang Pagoda. Vietnam
  • Rare Chinese antiques sell for more than £130k
  • British Museum displays a 2,000-year-old Buddha in exploration of Indian religions
  • 100-ton stone ‘Buddha’s footprint’ becomes spiritual beacon at Tam Chuc. Vietnam
  • Bengal’s artists reimagine the spirit of Buddha through art. Bangladesh.

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • August 2023
    • July 2023
    • June 2023
    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • February 2017

    Categories

    • Blog
    • Uncategorized

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    You may have missed

    World-renowned Buddha statues grace tranquil Vinh Trang Pagoda. Vietnam
    3 min read

    World-renowned Buddha statues grace tranquil Vinh Trang Pagoda. Vietnam

    2025-05-31
    Rare Chinese antiques sell for more than £130k
    2 min read

    Rare Chinese antiques sell for more than £130k

    2025-05-29
    British Museum displays a 2,000-year-old Buddha in exploration of Indian religions
    2 min read

    British Museum displays a 2,000-year-old Buddha in exploration of Indian religions

    2025-05-22
    100-ton stone ‘Buddha’s footprint’ becomes spiritual beacon at Tam Chuc. Vietnam
    2 min read

    100-ton stone ‘Buddha’s footprint’ becomes spiritual beacon at Tam Chuc. Vietnam

    2025-05-20
    Copyright © All rights reserved. | MoreNews by AF themes.