Japan: Difference Between a Temple & a Shrine

Senso-ji Temple

Japan has a rich cultural heritage & a unique religious landscape, & its temples & shrines are some of the most awe-inspiring & historically significant sites in the world. While Buddhism & Shintoism are the two main religions in Japan, they coexist & interact in a way that is often difficult to distinguish. Temples & shrines are two of the most common religious buildings in Japan, & they are both essential to the country's religious and cultural traditions. However, they have some fundamental differences, & it is necessary to understand them to fully appreciate their role in Japanese society.

Temples
Temples are associated with Buddhism & are the primary religious buildings in Japan, which house the Buddha. They are characterized by their pagoda-style architecture, which consists of a series of tiered roofs & eaves. They are usually located in mountainous or remote areas, & their buildings are made of wood, which reflects the influence of traditional Japanese architecture. Temples often have large gates, called sanmon, which mark the entrance to the temple grounds. 

Visitors are expected to purify themselves at the chozuya or temizuya (water basin) before entering the grounds by washing their hands with a ladle, alternating one hand then the other. Some people choose to purify their mouths as well but do not put mouth to the ladle.

Chozuya or Temizuya

The main hall, or hondo, is the most important building in a temple. It houses the statue of the Buddha & is where religious services are held. Temples also have other buildings, such as lecture halls, libraries, & pagodas, which serve as places of study and reflection.

Visitors to the temple usually burn incense in a jokoro to purify their surroundings during prayer & to feed the Buddha. It is said that wafting the smoke from the incense toward the body will bring healing. Those who wish to pray, gently toss a few coins (the amount does not matter) into the saisen-bako (donation box), slightly bow (45-degree angle), quietly place your hands together, offer your prayers, then bow again before leaving the hall. It is recommended to hold prayer beads or rosary while you pray in the temple.

Incense Burner

Here are some must-see temples in Japan:

• 

  Hase-dera Temple

  Senso-ji Temple: Tokyo's oldest & most famous temple. The temple's main gate, known as Kaminarimon, features a large lantern that symbolizes Asakusa, the neighborhood where the temple is located. Following Nakamise Street, full of souvenir shops & snack stands, the second gate, Hozomon, will lead to the temple's main hall. 
  
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple: Located in Kyoto, halfway up Mt. Otowa, this temple is surrounded by beautiful nature. It is known for its stunning city views, including Kyoto Tower, & its famous wooden stage that juts out from the main hall. 
• Todai-ji Temple: Located in Nara. It is famous for its massive bronze Buddha statue, one of the largest in Japan. The temple is also adjacent to Nara Park, so interacting with & feeding deer is quite common here. 
• Kinkaku-ji Temple: Also known as "The Golden Pavilion", is located in Kyoto. The temple is covered in gold leaf & is a stunning sight. Walking through the gardens, surrounded by ponds makes for a great outing.

  

  Kotoku-in Temple

• Hase-dera Temple: Located in Kamakura & known for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The grounds of the temple are slightly uphill & provide great views of Kamakura.
• Kotoku-in Temple: Located in Kamakura & home to the "Great Buddha", a copper statue standing 37 ft tall. 

Shrines 

Shrines are associated with Shintoism, where the gods reside, & is Japan’s indigenous religion. Shrines are marked by a torii gate at the entrance, serving as a boundary between the secular world & the sacred world. 

The main building in a shrine is called the honden, which houses the kami, or Shinto deity. Shrines also have other buildings, such as the haiden (worship hall) & the kagura-den (dance hall), which serve as places of worship & ritual.

Visiting a shrine is similar to the temple when it comes to purifying & offerings, however, prayers are to the kami (gods). If there is a bell, ring it 2-3 times, to signal the gods. Once you gently toss in your coins, bow twice (to a 90-degree angle), clap your hands twice together, offer your prayers, then bow again before leaving. 

After prayer, there is the option to purchase an ema, which is a small wooden plaque where wishes, prayers & blessings can be written & hung on a wall for the gods to receive. There are also omikuji, which are slips of paper with fortunes already written on them. They can either be kept or tied to a rope.

Ema Wall

Here are some must-see shrines in Japan:

• 

  Fushimi Inari Taisha

  Fushimi Inari Taisha: Located in Kyoto & one of Japan's most famous and picturesque shrines. It is known for its thousands of red vermilion torii gates that wind up the hillside.
• Itsukushima Shrine: Located on the island of Miyajima. The shrine is famous for its "floating" torii gate, which appears to be floating in the water during high tide.
• Meiji Shrine: Located in Tokyo. It is dedicated to Emperor Meiji & Empress Shoken, & is known for its peaceful forested grounds & unique sake barrel wall along the walkway.
• Tosho-gu Shrine: Located in Nikko. It is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Thosho-gu does house Shinto & Buddhist elements.

  

  Meiji Shrine

  
  
• Kumano-Nachi Taisha: Located in Kumano, neighboring Nachi-no-Otaki, Japan's tallest waterfall. It is one of the three shrines located in Kumano.
• Izumo Taisha: Located in Izumo & one of Japan's most important & oldest shrines.

When visiting these temples & shrines, it is essential to be respectful of the religious customs & traditions. Dress modestly & remove your shoes before entering any sacred spaces. Take time to appreciate the beauty & history of these great sites, & you will leave Japan with a deeper appreciation of its rich cultural heritage; I know I did.

XOXO, Brooke