Our Shrine

We are lucky enough to have both a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine in our neighborhood! Both shrines and temples are incredibly common in Japan and can be found just about anywhere you look. Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan and is as old as the country itself. It means "way of the gods" and is very nature based. Shinto recognizes that everything in the universe, including rocks, trees, etc, have a spirit. Even actions and different cycles of nature have spirits representing each moment. It is said that Shinto has over 8 million spirits or gods to assist with every aspect of life. This, of course, is a very simplified, quick explanation of Shintoism, as it is a very ancient, complex belief system that has evolved slowly throughout history. One of the biggest impacts on Shintoism occurred when the Koreans introduced Buddhism to Japan 1500 years ago. Buddhism has had a huge influence on Japan, with about 33% of Japanese identifying as Buddhist.

Currently, there is a movement to revive Shinto in its original form. Many people dislike how modernized Shinto has become, since now it is heavily mixed with Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. This type is known as Koshinto, which means "old shinto", and is dedicated to practicing Shintoism in its purest, ancient form before outside religious influence came to be.

Shinto shrines and sacred places are always marked with a torri gate. It is through this large structure that you enter the space. Before you can enter, you must cleanse yourself with water that is usually provided by a well near the gate. You use a ladle to pour water over your left hand first, then over your right hand, then you fill your cupped hand with water, sip it from your hand, swish it around your mouth and spit it out. The left over water is carefully poured on the ground and the ladle is placed back on the well.

When I visited our shrine, there were many beautiful things to see. I even found a cat there! He was napping in the bushes. I love our neighborhood - there is always something to explore!