Published December 20, 2023
10 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,