Nestled in the heart of bustling Shibuya, Meiji Jingu (明治神宮) stands as a serene oasis of tranquility, offering visitors a profound connection to Japan’s spiritual heritage amidst the modern metropolis. This Shinto shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, represents one of Tokyo’s most important cultural landmarks and provides a breathtaking experience where nature, tradition, and history converge.

A Forest Born from Devotion

What makes Meiji Jingu truly extraordinary is its forest—a man-made woodland created through the donations of over 100,000 trees from across Japan and planted by volunteers. This 70-hectare sanctuary, now a mature ecosystem with trees over a century old, demonstrates Japan’s deep reverence for nature and its ability to create sacred spaces within urban environments. The forest’s careful design creates a natural pathway that guides visitors toward spiritual reflection even before reaching the main shrine buildings.

Caede’s Spiritual Insight:
“As you pass through the first torii gate, something remarkable happens—the sounds of Tokyo fade away, replaced by birdsong and rustling leaves. This intentional transition prepares your mind and spirit for the sacred experience ahead. I always recommend walking slowly through this approach, allowing yourself to fully absorb the shift from urban energy to serene contemplation. For another beautiful spiritual experience in Tokyo, consider visiting Sensoji Temple in Asakusa for a different but equally meaningful encounter with Japanese tradition.”

The Heart of the Shrine

The main shrine complex, constructed in traditional Nagarezukuri style using Japanese cypress, exemplifies the elegant simplicity of Shinto architecture. Visitors follow the purified path to offer prayers at the main hall, where they can experience authentic Shinto rituals and ceremonies. The shrine’s design—without excessive ornamentation—creates a powerful atmosphere of purity and reverence that resonates with both Japanese worshippers and international visitors

Key Areas to Explore:

• Main Shrine Buildings: The central worship halls where ceremonies are conducted
• Inner Garden: Features the beautiful Iris Garden that blooms spectacularly in June
• Treasure Museum: Houses personal artifacts of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken
• Shinto Ritual Observance: Daily ceremonies that visitors may respectfully observe

Caede’s Ritual Guidance:
“Participating in basic Shinto customs can deepen your experience. At the temizuya (purification fountain), use the ladle to cleanse your left hand, then right hand, then mouth, and finally the ladle handle. When approaching the main hall, bow twice, clap twice, offer your prayer, then bow once more. These simple acts connect you to centuries of tradition. If you’re interested in learning more about Japanese spiritual practices, our guides at Japan City Tour can provide deeper insights during our cultural tours.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Caede’s Seasonal Recommendation:
“While any time is wonderful to visit, I particularly love early Sunday mornings in autumn. You might witness a traditional wedding procession—a breathtaking sight with the vibrant fall colors as backdrop. The sound of the groom’s traditional footsteps on the gravel path creates a rhythm that seems to connect present with past. After your shrine visit, the nearby Harajuku district offers a fascinating contrast between traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.”

Your Japan Tour

If you are thinking about making a trip to Japan, as seasoned Japan experts we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including destinations like the Meiji Shrine. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Practical Visitor Information

📍 Access:

• Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) – 1 minute walk to main entrance
• Meiji-jingumae Station (Tokyo Metro) – 3 minute walk to main entrance
• Sangubashi Station (Odakyu Line) – 10 minute walk to north entrance

⏰ Hours:

• Shrine Grounds: Sunrise to sunset (varies by season)
• Inner Garden: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (March-October), 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (November-February)
• Treasure Museum: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Mondays and following days if Monday is holiday)

💴 Admission:

• Treasure Museum: 500 yen (or combined ticket with Inner Garden available)
• Shrine Grounds: Free
• Inner Garden: 500 yen (includes Meiji Jingu Museum)

Essential Etiquette and Tips

• Walk on the sides of the main path (center is reserved for deities)
• Maintain a respectful quietness throughout the grounds
• Photography restrictions are clearly marked—please observe them
• Large bags and luggage should be stored at station lockers before visiting
• The gravel paths may be challenging for strollers and wheelchairs in some areas

Beyond the Main Shrine

Meiji Jingu Museum
Opened in 2019 to commemorate the 100th anniversary, this modern facility designed by architect Kengo Kuma houses precious artifacts and offers deeper historical context through interactive displays.

Naien (Inner Garden)
Originally created by Emperor Meiji for Empress Shoken, this paid-access garden features the spectacular Iris Garden, tranquil ponds, and the Kiyomasa’s Well—a spiritually significant spot.

Sake and Wine Barrels
Displayed at the shrine entrance, these offerings from Japanese sake brewers and French wine makers symbolize the cultural exchange championed during Emperor Meiji’s reign.

Caede’s Hidden Discovery:
“Most visitors follow the main path, but I recommend exploring the lesser-known north area near the Sangubashi entrance. Here you’ll find quieter forest paths and the Original Imperial Carriage House. It’s also worth noting that Meiji Jingu is actually part of a larger green corridor connecting to Yoyogi Park—you can easily spend a full morning exploring this entire green oasis in central Tokyo.”

Cultural Significance and Modern Relevance

Meiji Jingu serves not only as a religious site but also as a living cultural institution that preserves and transmits Japanese traditions. From the daily rituals performed by priests to the seasonal festivals that mark the agricultural calendar, the shrine maintains practices that have defined Japanese spirituality for centuries while remaining accessible and meaningful to contemporary visitors from around the world.

The shrine’s commitment to environmental stewardship is equally significant—the forest functions as a vital green lung for Tokyo while demonstrating how human intervention, when guided by reverence, can create sustainable ecosystems that benefit both nature and urban communities.

Caede’s Final Reflection:
“Meiji Jingu offers something increasingly rare in our modern world—a space where time seems to move differently, where the boundary between past and present softens, and where people from all backgrounds can experience moments of genuine peace and reflection. Whether you come for spiritual reasons, cultural interest, or simply to escape the city’s pace, this sacred forest has a remarkable ability to touch each visitor uniquely. It stands as a beautiful testament to Japan’s ability to honor tradition while embracing the future—a theme that continues throughout Japanese culture, from its ancient temples to its technological innovations.”

Rituals to receive a message from deities have been held from a long time ago. And it is said the current fortune paper style started in the 10th century with a monk named Ryogen at the Ganzandaishido Temple in Hieizan, Kyoto.

What is Witten on the Paper?

Let us explain the different parts of an omikuji paper, so it will be easier for you to understand what you are reading.

Message from the Deities and Buddha: It may be written in the form of a poem in Japanese (or in Chinese at some temples). It is difficult to understand the meaning because the real message is often hidden behind the poem. But luckily the meaning is explained on the paper. Here is an English example from Sensoji Temple in Tokyo.

The Level of Your Fortune: The paper indicates the overall level of your fortune. Best fortune is the top followed by good fortune, small fortune, and bad fortune. Some facilities may have more categories, and some facilities may not have the bad fortune category at all. It is probably good to know that some temples and shrines actually have many papers with a bad fortune, so you don’t have to feel too bad about drawing one of them.

Your Fortune in Various Areas: The paper also indicates your fortune in different areas. For example, your wish, a person you are waiting for, a lost item, traveling, business, study, investment, competition, love, moving, childbirth, disease, and marriage.

Languages: Fortune papers are written in Japanese, but temples that get many foreign visitors may have omikuji in foreign languages such as English and Chinese.

How to Draw Omikuji?

It depends on the religious facility. At some facilities, there is a box containing a bunch of rolled papers. You put money into the offertory box and pick one of them. One omikuji normally costs 100 yen.

Many facilities also have the following system. You shake a box that contains many sticks, each stick bearing a number. Then you shake the box, draw one stick, and check the number. You take the paper from the drawer with the corresponding number.

Some facilities may even have an omikuji vending machine. When you put the money in, the paper will come out automatically.

What to Do After You Read Omikuji?

Different facilities may explain differently, but basically, if you draw a good fortune, you can take it with you as a good luck charm. But if you draw bad fortune, do not worry too much. There are bars or ropes to which you can tie your bad fortune paper. You can find them close to the omikuji drawing place.

It is prohibited to tie it on tree branches because it may damage the trees and it takes time for the monks or priests to take it away. Anyway, if you tie your paper to the provided bars or rope, you will be free from the bad fortune. It is recommended though to read the message before you tie it, as it may contain useful information.

Omikuji Trends

Love Omikuji: It especially indicates the fortune of your love life with a message from the deities or Buddha. It gives you your overall fortune level, too.

Omikuji with a Small Amulet: Some omikuji are more expensive than the normal paper one because they contain small omamori or good luck charms. It may be a small metal auspicious animal. For example, turtles and cranes are symbols of longevity and carps are a symbol of strength. This symbolism is also visible at other times in Japan. For example, you may find carp streamers around the Children’s Day holiday, hoping that children will healthy and grow strong. The frog is auspicious, too. It is called ‘kaeru’ in Japanese which means ‘to return’, so it is a symbol of the safe trip home or money that returns.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We will include guides who can tell you all about omikuji and other religious customs in Japan. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

History of the Shikoku Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage is related to a monk called Kukai (774 – 835). Kukai was later called Kobodaishi (Great Master Kobo), and he founded the Shingon sect of Buddhism. He was born in Shikoku and took ascetic training to reach enlightenment. He went to China from where Buddhism was brought. After he came back, he founded the main temple of the Shingon sect on the mountain of Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture.

It is said the pilgrimage follows the route which Kukai took after his death. It is not known who designated the 88 temples and when this happened. All we know is that it was not Kukai. It is said that his followers gradually decided on which temples became a part of the pilgrimage. Great monk Shinnen published the first guidebook introducing the 88 temples in 1687. After that, pilgrimage became very popular throughout the Edo Period (1603 – 1867).

The popularity of pilgrimage did not only increase in Shikoku but all over Japan. Common people could not travel outside of their towns in those days, but pilgrimage was an exception because of several factors. Many people started traveling to Ise Shrine, Kumano Shrine, and other religious places including Shikoku.

Pilgrimage Today

The total distance of the route is 1,100 to 1,400 km. The distance is not fixed because there are several possible routes that allow you to visit all the temples. If you walk, it normally takes about 40 days. The number of pilgrims today is estimated at 100,000 to 300,000 per year, and about 2,500 to 5,000 of them do it on foot. The rest uses cars or tourist buses. It may take approximately 10 days if you use a car. Besides these options, there are a lot of organized tours for pilgrims.

You don’t have to visit all 88 temples at once. You can also split up the route and visit several temples at one time. The temples have numbers from 1 to 88, but you don’t have to start from one. You can choose to visit them clockwise or counter-clockwise.

It is believed that if you visit the 88 temples counter-clockwise in a leap year, you will be blessed threefold because of the legend of Emon Saburo. He wanted to meet Kukai to apologize to him, so he tried walking the route clockwise 20 times but he never met Kukai. However, when he attempted the route counter-clockwise in a leap year once, he finally met Kukai.

After visiting all 88 temples, finally, you are supposed to visit Koyasan. This is the headquarter of the Shingon sect which Kukai established. Then your wish will come true. You will not only be blessed, but you will enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you finish.

Pilgrimage Costume

You can recognize the pilgrims easily because they wear white clothes with sutras written on it. It is actually the outfit for the dead. It means that they are not afraid of death while taking this pilgrimage. They also have wooden sticks which represent Kukai. This symbolizes that even though you are walking by yourself, you are always with Kukai. Some pilgrims may wear straw hats.

Settai or Osettai

Settai literally means ‘offering hospitality’. There used to be a lot of facilities to help pilgrims voluntarily, for example, offering free food, drinks, and accommodation. For the locals, offering hospitality to pilgrims means offering it to Kukai.

Nowadays, there are not many as many facilities as there used to be. You can still find some resting spaces, temples, or free private accommodation. If you receive hospitality, you are supposed to give an amulet in return. But even if they don’t receive anything, they receive at least a blessing from the deities. Many people mention that what impressed them most during the pilgrimage is the hospitality of the local people.

Ryozenji Temple

Each temple has a serial number. Ryozenji is the number one temple in Tokushima. It was established in the 8th century by famous monk Gyoki. Then in 815, Kukai came to this temple and practiced meditation for 21 days. During his practice, he had a feeling that he was in Ryojusan where Buddha once preached to the worshipers. So he renamed the temple Ryozenji and donated a statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Ishiteji Temple

This is temple no. 55, which is one of the most visited temples out of 88. Because it is located close to the famous hot spring town Dogo in Matsuyama City, it is especially popular. Additionally, this is the temple related to Emon Saburo who met Kukai. His statue can be found on the temple grounds.

A big statue of Seian-daishi, which is 16 meters high, is on the mountain behind the temple. Entrance gate Nio-mon, constructed in 1318, is designated as National Treasure. Visiting the cave that represents Mantra (sacred words) may be interesting. There are many Buddhist statues in the cave.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can provide you with guides who can tell you all about the history and culture of the pilgrimage of Shikoku and take you there. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Portuguese Missionaries and the Shogunate

Christianity was brought to Japan in 1549 by Francisco Xavier, who was sent there as a Portuguese missionary. It was around the same time when the first gun was brought into Japan by the Portuguese. The 16th century was the Age of Discovery, and also the time when the Jesuits tried to spread Catholicism to combat the religious reform movement in Europe.

This combination made it only logical that Christianity would also one day arrive on the shores of Japan. Xavier was mainly active in Hirado (Nagasaki) and Yamaguchi. He managed to convert a few feudal lords, who in turn helped his activities so Christianity started to spread around Nagasaki.

Oda Nobunaga was the leader of a group of samurai who wanted the unification of Japan in the late 16th century. He accepted the activities of the missionaries, but when Toyotomi Hideyoshi became the leader he expelled them. There were several reasons for that; firstly, he was afraid that Japan might become a colony of the European countries like so many other Asian countries already had at that time.

Christian Rebellion

Secondly, he wanted to have all the power to himself, and a foreign religion was the last thing he could use if he wanted to establish that. And thirdly, he got angry about the fact that some Japanese people were sold as slaves by the Europeans. Also, some missionaries dismantled Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, making them even less popular with Toyotomi and his followers. To set a strong example, 26 Catholics were executed by crucifixion by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1597.

From 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu took the power and became Shogun. The Tokugawa Shogunate gradually prohibited Christianity, because the idea in Christianity that all people are equal is against the hierarchal ideas of the Shogunate, and if the missionaries would increase their activities, it would mean that the government loses control over the population.

There was a big civil war called the Shimabara Rebellion that occurred in 1637, in which the Christian population rebelled against the shogunate because they wanted to stay Christian. It is said that about 37,000 people in Shimabara (Nagasaki) joined this rebellion, and almost all Christians died either during the fight or by means of execution after the fight was over.

Seclusion Policy: What Happened to Christianity?

In 1639 Japan closed the country for nearly all foreigners, seclusion that eventually lasted more than 200 years. The policy meant that Japan stopped trade with all European countries in order to stop Christianity, except for the Netherlands after the Dutchmen promised that they would never spread Christianity in Japan. The shogunate controlled the trade by limiting their business activity to a small artificial island called Dejima in Nagasaki.

To stop the Japanese people from believing in Christianity, the shogunate made two rules. The first rule was that everyone needed to register at a Buddhist temple as a worshiper. The second rule was that everyone needed to step on an image of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary to prove that they were not Christians. After implementing these rules, it looked like Christians had completely disappeared from Japan.

That was, however, not really the case because many Christians continued their belief in secret. They stepped on the icon pretending that they were not Christians, but at the same time, they kept statues of Jizo or Kannon (the goddess of mercy in Buddhism), regarding it as Virgin Mary. They were regarded as hidden Christians. The novel ‘Silence’ by Endo Shusaku explained this very well. This novel was also made into a movie by the director Martin Scorsese.

Opening Up Japan

In 1853, American Commodore Mathew Perry came to Japan with his (in)famous black ships to ask the Japanese to open up the country for trade with the Americans. They came to Japan because they were looking for a port to refuel for their ships, mostly for the purpose of whaling. Besides, the Americans were looking for a base close to China. Under quite some pressure because of the far superior modern weapons of the US, Japan decided to open up the country after 200 years of seclusion in 1854.

Japan also made a treaty with Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Russia. From that point, many westerners came to live in Japan to start a business. Missionaries also came to Japan again, even though Christianity was still prohibited for the Japanese. The westerners who lived in Japan were allowed to be Christian, so they were allowed to build churches for those westerners.

Surprisingly, when they built a church in Nagasaki, a lot of hidden Japanese Christians appeared. It turned out that they passed down Christianity from generation to generation for more than 200 years in secret! After the shogunate finished, the new Meiji government finally accepted Christianity in 1873.

Christianity Brought Japan Historical Churches

Because of its history with hidden Christians, Nagasaki’s population is around 4% Christian while only 1% in other parts of Japan are registered as Christian. The oldest existing Catholic church in Japan is Oura Church (its official name is Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan) in Nagasaki. It is designated as a national treasure and also listed as a World Cultural Heritage site.

It was constructed by a French priest in 1864 while it was still the feudal time in Japan when Christianity was prohibited for Japanese people. This church was therefore built for the westerners who started to live in Nagasaki after Japan opened up in 1854. Nagasaki Port was one of the earliest ports opened to the western world and many westerners, mostly merchants, came to live here.

Other than Oura Church, there are 11 more churches listed as the World Cultural Heritage sites as ‘Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region’. These churches are the witnesses of the history of hidden Christians during the Edo Period when Christianity was prohibited. They found a lot of Christians around the churches when they were built in the late 19th century.

Church Weddings: Are They Christianity Related?

Fast forward to the 21st century, and a very interesting phenomenon has popped up in Japanese weddings. Besides the solemn Shinto or Buddhist ceremony, many couples also opt to have a ‘church’ or chapel wedding. Fake churches and chapels have popped up all over Japan, usually in picturesque locations with a nice backdrop for the pictures. The sole purpose of these venues is to let couples get married in a church-like setting, so the wedding looks like the ones you see in American movies.

While only 1% of the total population in Japan is Christian, many couples opt for a Christian-style wedding in these special locations. The ceremony doesn’t have much to do with religion, but you can bet that it looks picture perfect with the perfect dress and the perfect cake, and especially the ladies tend to dream about a wedding in this style. You can compare it a bit with Vegas’ wedding industry, and from a commercial point of view, it makes perfect sense, as the Japanese wedding industry is good for trillions of yen every year, despite a shrinking younger generation.

Christmas in Japan

The western-style wedding industry isn’t the only Christian tradition that found its way into Japan’s modern traditions; Christmas has become a pretty big deal in Japan in the last 30 years or so. If you come to Japan in November or December, you will find many Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, and Christmas illuminations all over Japan. Children believe in Santa Clause, and they receive presents on Christmas morning. One part of the Christmas tradition that didn’t make it to Japan is the Christmas Eve mass, and the Japanese don’t go to church on December 24th.

Christmas is a very commercial event in Japan, which is probably best exemplified by KFC’s incredible marketing feat. As Colonel Sanders has a resemblance to Santa Clause and chicken can be a substitute to the traditional Christmas turkey, one brilliant KFC store manager came up with the slogan ‘KFC for Christmas’.

Many Japanese took this to heart, and December became KFC’s best month by far, year in year out. Another branch that profits greatly from the commercialism surrounding Christmas in Japan is the hotel business, the love hotel business in particular. While Christmas is associated with the family in most of the world, in Japan it is very much a couple’s holiday. And spending a romantic night in a hotel is one of Japan’s younger generation’s favorite ways to spend this holiday.

Your Japan Tour

As seasoned Japan experts, we can help you create your perfect Japan tour including guides who can tell you all about the Christian history in Japan and take you to some of the important churches. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

Timeline of Engagement and Marriage

If you are in a relationship with a Japanese person, you know it is serious once you meet the parents. This formal introduction is the start of the engagement for many couples in Japan. The wedding, called ‘kekkon shiki’ in Japanese, usually takes place within a year after getting engaged. The average age to get married in Japan is around 30 years old and is still climbing due to social and economic factors. The lack of full-time, permanent employment opportunities for all is one of the reasons for the declining marriage rate and therefore lower birthrate.

Ceremony of Japanese Weddings

The religious ceremony in which a couple commits to each other is usually either Shinto or Buddhist. Depending on the faith the partners are registered with, a shrine of temple is chosen. If they are each registered with a different faith, sometimes two ceremonies take place. The most curious thing about Japanese weddings is the Western-style ceremony that has also found its way to Japan. Many couples first do the solemn Shinto or Buddhist ceremony. And then they get married in a chapel with a ‘fake’ church minister, a white dress, and a big, expensive cake.

Needless to say, the wedding industry in Japan is huge and very lucrative. Where weddings used to take place at home in a special room with an altar that many family homes still have, nowadays weddings take place in a shrine or temple, and then the party often moves to a hotel or wedding company’s building where everything is catered by the wedding organizers.

If you ever get invited to a Japanese wedding, it is important to note that you are supposed to gift the couple at least 30.000 yen. That is, if you are a part of the core wedding. Giving any less is considered rude as the couple will have to pay for your expenses this way. And giving any even number like 20.000 yen or 40.000 yen is also a no-no. This is because even numbers could be divided between divorcing spouses too easily which could cause you to jinx the couple. Are you invited only to the nijikai (second party) or sanjikai (third party)? Then you can get away with paying 10.000 yen to cover your own expenses.

Your Japan Tour

If you are thinking about making a trip to Japan, as seasoned Japan experts we can help you create your perfect Japan tour. We can include expert guides who can add to your holiday with their extensive knowledge on topics such as economy, demographics, and Japanese culture. Contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country. Japan is full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!

When shrines are built, objects of worship in which a god or gods reside are enshrined there. Shinto constitutes the foundation of the sensibility of Japanese people. Furthermore, most present-day Japanese rather than placing a religious kind of faith in Shinto feel their cultural identity through it. Shinto religion has supported the Emperor system in a religious sense, and even now its ancient customary practices remain as the religion of the Imperial Family.

Religious festivals throughout the year mark the passage of time and keep traditions alive. One of the best examples of this can be observed around the New Year holiday, when virtually all Shinto shrines are thronged with worshippers for the first shrine visit of the New Year and customary fortune telling for the year to come.

Torii Gates, Shinto Shrines’ Entrance

Torii gates are the archway that can always be seen at the approach to a Shinto shrine, and they have become a recognizable symbol of Shinto shrines. Two crosspieces are set on top of two upright pillars. It is thought that originally they were for roosters to perch on, as roosters are the ones to wake up the sun in the morning and thus have a special significance to Japanese people. The Sun Goddess is the most important god in Japan, being the embodiment of the rising sun and thus Japan itself.  On seeing a torii, many Japanese people bow towards the gate to honor the god residing there, even if they don’t enter the shrine itself.

Shimenawa, the Border Between Earth and Shinto Spirits

The shimenawa is the rope made of rice straw you will see hanging under many torii gates or in front of the area where you go to pray. You can also see them in sumo wrestling, sometimes the wrestlers wear them and the ring they fight in is also a shimenawa. These ropes are the border between the earthly and the heavenly. Under the shimenawa you can often see some zigzag white papers hanging, these are called shide and symbolize lightning, a symbol of communication between the gods and the earth.

Kannushi (Shinto Priests)

Kannushi are Shinto priests who are ministers at a Shinto shrine. They serve the divinities by making offerings and reciting Shinto prayers. They also perform the Shinto purification for people who come to worship and they conduct weddings.
While working as a priest, kannushi are also involved in shrine administration. Management, for example, of sales of written oracles, talisman, and good luck charms, and accounting for money offerings, all come under the direction of the priests.

Omikuji (Fortune Tellings)

Omikuji are written oracles, obtained by drawing a lot in which the good luck or bad luck. One’s overall fortune can range from outstanding to average to bad, covering various aspects of life such as academics, business, marriage proposals, and victory or defeat. The good part is that if you don’t like the fortune you drew, you can always hang it at one of the provided racks so that it will not come true. If you do like what you read you can bring it home with you.

Omamori (Lucky Charms)

Omamori are said to summon good fortune and expel evil, so divinities’ names, prayers, or temple and shrine names are written on a piece of wood or scraps of cardboard. They are usually sold at shrines and temples. You can get lucky charms for a variety of things, such as traffic safety, passing a school exam, business prosperity, good health, and easy childbirth.

Omamori are put in pouches and kept on one’s person, hung in cars, placed in the home, or attached to pillars or gates. It is common to present them to family members or to a lover who is leaving for travel or doing dangerous work and also to pray for their safety and health.

Osaisen (Money Offerings)

Osaisen are offerings of money that are made when worshipping at Shinto shrine and Buddhist temples. There is an offertory box, where worshippers pray, tossing in any amount of money they wish, or else they offer money as thanks for prayer that have been answered. It is said that this money is used for the upkeep of the temple or shrine grounds by the family who owns the temple or shrine.

Ema (Votive Tablets)

Ema literally means ‘horse picture’, because horses were seen as the vehicles of the gods and were thus popular ‘items’ to donate if you really needed something done by the gods. Of course, donating horses is very expensive and to make it affordable for the masses they made it possible to donate a proverbial horse to the gods by donating an ema instead.

Ema are small wooden planks on which you can write your wish. Ema can have all kinds of pictures on them, usually, the picture is related to the temple or shrine where you buy them, or it is a picture of the current Chinese zodiac animal. You will see areas with hanging ema, displaying everybody’s wishes in almost every temple or shrine.

Every now and then the people working at the temple or shrine removes the old ema to make space for new ones, the old ones are then ritually burned so that the wishes fly to heaven and will come true. While using ema used to be a Shinto tradition, nowadays this is done in Shinto shrines as well as in Buddhist temples.

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History of Buddhism in Japan

Buddhism came to Japan in the middle of the 6th century. Supporters of Buddhism were victorious in the political power struggle of that time. Building temples in every area under government patronage, Buddhism spread throughout the country.

In the Kamakura period that lasted from 1185 to 1333, a number of new Buddhist leaders appeared. Deepening the religion’s philosophy, Buddhism became mainly about saving the weak. Zen Buddhism was brought to Japan in the Kamakura period by a monk who studied Buddhism in China. And it then flourished principally as the religion of samurai warriors.

At present, the culture in Japan that has Buddhism as its backdrop has its roots deeply in the lives of the people. And together with Shinto, it forms the spiritual culture of the Japanese people. Also, even today new sects of Buddhism keep emerging and gaining believers.

Buddhist Temples

A Buddhist temple is a place where monks and nuns reside to practice ascetic exercises and hold Buddhist ceremonies. It is also a place where Buddhist images are enshrined, and where anyone who wishes to do so can pray. At the entrance of a temple, you will often see a two-story temple gate. Behind the gate, there are buildings such as the main hall, an auditorium, a pagoda, and a bell tower.

While birth and marriage are in general associated with Shinto rituals, almost every Japanese person will have a Buddhist funeral ritual. One of the reasons for this is that Buddhists believe in a potentially good hereafter. Shinto, on the other hand, believes in a kind of underworld that you go to in your afterlife. That sounds decidedly less attractive.

Therefore, graveyards in Japan are generally located on temple grounds. People go to temples during Bon festival and equinoctial weeks for making visits to the grave of their ancestors. Relatives also gather on the anniversaries of deaths and have monks recite sutras in the temple.

Temples are not only visited by Japanese people for these solemn circumstances only though. They also visit temples for appreciating the beautiful structures and Buddhist images just like foreign tourists do.

Juzu (rosaries)

Juzu -Buddhist rosaries- are held in the hands when praying to Buddha. While counting the number of times, by touching the beads, that Buddhist prayers (sutras) have been recited. It is similar to the Catholic rosary. Juzu are held in the hands when worshipping Buddha. They are also used when paying respects to the spirits of the dead upon visiting their graves. There are usually 108 Juzu beads which are said to remove the 108 worldly desires cited in Buddhist teachings.

Jizo Statues

Jizo statues, who are guardian deities, are thought to protect all living things in the world. This is necessary from the time when Buddha died until the time when the Benevolent Bodhisattva will appear. In Japan, stone Jizo statues, usually about one meter high, are erected as boundary gods at the boundaries of towns and villages and at crossroads.

Jizo are said to rescue the spirits of children when they die and have even been erected at the actual spot where traffic accidents with children have occurred. Most people today feel a closeness to Jizo, fondly calling them Ojizosan.

Shinto-Buddhism Syncretism

A long time ago, when Buddhism arrived from abroad while Shinto was already there, Shinto and Buddhism already occasionally came together in a synthesis. This is called Shinbutsu-Shugo. Because Buddhism is not a theistic doctrine and Shinto principally worships nature, there are no contradictions in synthesizing them. This tendency has continued for a long time after Buddhism was introduced in the 6th century, with Shinto shrines supporting the construction of Buddhism temples.

When Japan began to function as a modern nation-state in 1868, Shinbutsu-Shugo became prohibited because the government set a policy of strengthening Shinto in order to support nationalism, but now once again it is quite common to set up both Buddhist family altars and Shinto family alters in the same house or to have a wedding with Shinto rituals and funerals with Buddhism rituals within the same family.

The Seven Lucky Gods

The seven luck gods, Shichifukujin in Japanese, are the seven gods that bring good luck to individuals, families, and companies. They are representative of gods and holy persons in Buddhism, Shintoism, and Taoism and are often drawn sailing a treasure ship together. It has been said that people in Japan, following the story of seven holy men in ancient China, put together seven gods of good luck and came to believe in them.

The Shichifukujin became widely known in the Muromachi period that lasted from 1333 to 1573. Nowadays, at temples and shrines with a Shichifukujin connection, people pray for a long life and family well-being, and a merchant who is hoping for business success will display a Shichifukujin picture in his shop.

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan by Japanese monks who studied Zen Buddhism in China in the early 12th century. It emphasizes gaining enlightenment through zazen (meditation while sitting still on the floor) and daily chores called ‘samu’ such as raising vegetables, cleaning, cooking, etc.

One of the most important differences between Zen Buddhism and most other forms of Buddhism is how Zen Buddhism emphasizes reaching the state of enlightenment in the current life while still alive, where other forms of Buddhism emphasize reaching that state after one of your next lives and after death.

Thoughts of zen such as ‘to know one has enough’ have deeply influenced Japanese customs, ways of lives, and culture such as tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arrangement), Japanese gardens, etc.

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Religion in Daily Life

Many people like going to their nearest sanctuary every now and then to spend a few minutes praying for health, family, and love or just for giving thanks. Another example of how Japanese people give expression to their spirituality is how there are a few phrases in the Japanese language that are directly derived from Zen Buddhism, a good example of this is ‘shoganai‘ which means it is no use getting angry about something that cannot be helped anyway.

The meaning of each reverence, each smile, each service that people do here for others has a spiritual meaning, conscious or not. Shintoists believe that every living being is sacred, has an energy, and that it deserves respect. Sometimes it even goes as far as feeling that there is a spirit in an object, which partly explains why things are often treated with a lot of respect.

Rules when Visiting Shinto Shrines

If you want to visit a Shinto shrine, you should consider the following:

1. Before entering the main torii (gate), a bow must be made. Entering the gate means that you are entering the Kami (God) dimension and they deserve respect.
2. Wash your hands with the sacred water that is often found on one side of the sanctuary.
3. Go to the front of the sanctuary’s main hall and throw in the donation box some coins for good luck.
4. Two consecutive bows must be made. Clap twice and pray silently. You can pray for everything you need. Finally, a final bow must be made to thank the Kami who heard the request. Then you must retire.
5. It is optional to check your fortune with the sacred omikuji (prediction of the future on paper). In most shrines, omikuji is also available in English. It is a summary of what the near future will have in store. After reading it can be placed in a special place together with the other omikuji since if it was good fortune, it will be fulfilled faster and if it was a bad fortune, the Kami can help change your destiny.
6. You can remain in the sanctuary for as long as you require, but when you leave, you shouldn’t forget to make the final bow after you exit from the main torii in the direction of the sanctuary.

It is impressive that even in one of the largest and busiest cities in the world, such as Tokyo, we find this important tradition in the hearts of its citizens.

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Ise Jingu

Ise Jingu, officially and simply named ‘Jingu’, includes 125 jinja (Shinto shrines). The shrine is centered around Kotaijingu (Naiku) that is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami. The area is approximately the same size as the city center of Paris. Every year more than 1,500 rituals are performed to pray for the prosperity of the Imperial Family, world peace, and a great harvest. The Ise Jingu shrine is listed as the most important shrine in Japan. It is located in Mie prefecture.

Yasukuni Shrine

In the heart of Tokyo, in Kudanshita, you can find the Imperial Yasukuni Shrine. Yasukuni literally means ‘Country in peace’. This beautiful precinct maintains the record of 2,466,000 souls who lost their lives in conflicts from the Meiji era to the end of the war in 1945. Here, and here all those souls are thanked for their efforts. It is considered one of the most important shrines in Japan due to its long history. And its objective says that Japan can never enter a war conflict ever again. Traditional events and performances are often held on the shrine grounds. This makes it extra interesting to visit for tourists.

Meiji Shrine

In the Shibuya area is the famous Meiji Jingu, where the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken are worshiped. Today it is one of the most important tourist spots in Tokyo, attracting thousands of tourists from the early hours of the morning until closing time at sunset. The venue is located in a forest in the middle of the capital city. This forest is made up of more than 120,000 trees of 365 species donated by each prefecture of Japan. In this sanctuary, only the souls of the Emperor and Empress are venerated.

Itsukushima (Miyajima)

In the Hiroshima prefecture, within Itsukushima Island (commonly known as Miyajima), there is a beautiful Shinto shrine called Itsukushima-jinja. The shrine is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This sacred precinct has the particularity of giving the impression of floating in the water, in fact, it was built above the Seto sea.

Unlike most Shinto shrines, where the torii gate is located on the way to the precinct, the torii is in the sea and is perfectly aligned with the Honden (main sanctuary). The O-Torii (Great Torii Gate), which rises from the sea at about 16.8 meters high, is among the most interesting structures of the Itsukushima Shrine. It is considered one of the 3 most beautiful landscapes in all of Japan.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

In all of Japan, there are around 32,000 Shinto shrines dedicated to the god Inari. The main shrine and head of the entire network are located in the city of Kyoto. Known worldwide for its more than 10,000 torii in a row, the Fushimi Inari Taisha attracts many visitors. There are around 3 million visiting during the first three days of the year alone, and it is one of Kyoto’s top attractions. The shrine is located at the base of Mount Inari and includes many minor shrines that line the 4 kilometers to the top of the 233m mountain.

Although there are many more Shinto shrines, if you have little time in Japan, this list will hopefully make it a little easier to plan your visit.

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Amaterasu Omikami is the incarnate goddess of the Sun. She governs the Universe and is the main deity of the Japanese Shinto religion. It is believed that the royal family of Japan descends directly from this important goddess. She represents fertility and makes plants grow that give life not only to humans but also to the gods. As the guardian of the Japanese people, she is represented by the emblem of the rising sun on the Japanese flag. The meaning of her full name, Amaterasu-ōmikami means ‘the great kami (goddess) that shines in the sky’.

The stories and myths about Amaterasu come from the Kojiki. This is the oldest book in Japan that was completed in 712 and means ‘Record of Ancient Things’. Before the written form came into existence, the Kojiki was transmitted orally. It contains myths, legends, songs, genealogies, and statements. It also contains historical narratives about the Imperial Court of Japan, families, and their origins.

According to Kojiki, Amaterasu was born when Izanagi, a primordial male deity washed his left eye during a purification process. Izanagi entrusted her with his necklace and was given power over the heavens. His brother, the storm god Susanowo, was born when Izanagi washed his nose and was given the power of the oceans.

Symbols of Amaterasu Omikami

You will find several symbols in depictions of Amaterasu, here are some of them explained:

Mirror: The original mirror that reflected Amaterasu was made by the blacksmith of the gods. It is kept in the Great Shrine in Ise in central Japan and it’s called Yata no Kagami. To this day, the sanctuary accepts visitors, and you can see the building where the mirror is stored. The mirror itself, however, has been hidden for 1,500 years. It is said that the mirror has eight sides since eight represents the number of perfection in Shinto. All mirrors are considered sacred to Amaterasu and it is a way to connect with her and reflect the state of the viewer’s soul. A Japanese proverb says: “When the mirror is dark, the soul is not pure.”

Necklace: As mentioned earlier, at the time of her birth, Amaterasu received a sacred necklace from Izanagi. It is also said that a jewel of this necklace is consecrated in the Great Sanctuary of Ise.

Solar Sword: Amaterasu is the guardian of the Japanese people and in her role as protector, the solar sword represents her martial attributes. It is also an indication of her ability to take her people to war when necessary.
The mirror, the necklace, and the sword are considered the three emblems of the Imperial Japanese Royalty and the three symbols of Shinto.

Shintoism in Japan

Shinto is the pre-Buddhist indigenous religion of Japan and is the most important religion today. It is worth noting that Japanese Shinto that focuses on honoring nature and the concerns of everyday life is frequently practiced together with Buddhism, which focuses on the concerns of future life. It is considered that many Buddhist deities are also Shinto Kami (gods).

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As seasoned Japan experts, we create perfect Japan package tours including guides who can answer all your questions about the Shinto religion and Amaterasu Omikami. Check out our group tours and private tours, or contact us to start planning your unforgettable holiday to this fascinating country full of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, culture, history, nature, and delicious food!