Ten Most Famous Shrines and Temples

We all know that Japan is famous for its shrines and temples. Here are some of the best in Japan. Come and feel what is like to live in a country where they were building these temples and worshipping gods before western civilization was even getting started.

10) Fushimi Inari Shrine

This is the most famous of the shrines dedicated to the god of rice, Inari. His messengers are said to be foxes and thus statues of foxes are often found at Inari shrines. There is a long trail that takes about two hours to walk on the mountain (Inari-san) behind the main shrine. The trail is covered by countless torii gates lined one after the other along the way. Inari is two stops out of Kyoto on the JR Nara line.

9) Yudono Shrine

Yudono is one of the three mountains of the Dewa Sanzan. Each mountain has its own shrine with the other two being called Haguro San and Gasu San. Each of the mountains is said to represent Birth, Life, and Death. Yudono shrine is the most famous and venerated of the three. There is a certain degree of mystery which surrounds the shrine as it is forbidden to talk of, or hear what happens within its inner sanctum. Photographs of the shrine are also forbidden. These three shrines are in a breathtaking mountain setting and have beautiful long walks with a myriad of steps running up to them. Of course you can always cheat and drive up the toll road to Yudono if you are not up to the walk. Recommended.

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima is perhaps one of the most photographed and is extremely well recognized as a symbol of Japan. The shrine itself is beautiful as it is built over the seawater and, at high tide, looks like it is floating on the water. Perhaps even more famous than the shrine itself is the Torii or red gate to the shrine which sits in the sea.

This torii is absolutely stunning and is a beautiful example of a man-made structure in complete harmony with the surrounding nature.The shrine was build under the patrongage of Taira no Kiyomori who was the most powerful man in Japan when it was built in 1168. There are trails around the waterfront that lead up to the temple and they are very picturesque to walk. Try to time your visit for a full tide so you get the true “floating” effect with the temple and torii.

7) Ise Grand Shrines

These are the most famous and venerated of the Shinto shrines. Over six million visitors come to these shrines each year, many of them Shinto followers on a pilgramage. The Outer (Geku) and Inner (Naiku) Shrines are actually located several kilometers apart, each at the foot of a hill with thick woods. Both are burnt to the ground every 20 years and rebuilt according to tradition.The Ise shrines have a very stark austerity, and are built in a strictly Japanese style. Many of the shrines in Japan are influenced by other mainland Asian shrins and temples. The Ise Grand Shrines are not extravagant in their design and are almost minimalist in their simplicity. While these qualities represent some of the ideals of purity and simplicity within the religion, to the untrained eye, they are not the most exciting shrines to visit.

6) Todaiji

Todaiji is located in Nara and is widely considered one of Japans most important temples. It was constructed in 752 as the head of all buddist temples in Japan and became so powerful that the capital of Japan was moved to Nara. Todaiji habors Japan’s largest bronze buddah and the wooden structure that houses it is the largest wooden structure in the world. Todaiji is impressive in its size and cuts an imposing impression on the surrounding landscape. Well worth a visit.

5) Horyuuji

Horyuuji is an important place for buddists in Japan as it is one of the world’s oldest wooden structures and one of the first buddest temples established in Japan. The temple was established by Prince Shotoku who is generally said to have brought buddism to Japan. The temple itself is intricately constructed from wood. There is another wooden pagoda which sits over the back should er of the temple itself. These beautiful wooden structures all date back to the 7th Century.

4) Kinkakuji

This was built in the 14th Century. The building is a three-storied pavillion and is covered in gold leaf. The building was rebuilt in 1955 as it was burned down by a monk in 1950. The golden building sits amongst trees and on the edge of a lake and reflects the golden evening light beautifully.

3) Kiyomizu Temple

This temple was built in 780 and is one of the most famous temples in Japan. Located in Kyoto it stands on wooded hills and overlooks the city. It is a large wooden structure, beautifully constructed, and in stunning harmony with the the trees that surround it. It has a huge balcony area where you can look out over the hills and Kyoto city. There is also a pagoda shrine in the back which is also nesteled beautifully amoung the surrounding flora. The pathway leading to shrine is in Higashiyama, one of the older areas of Kyoto and is bustling with vendors selling their wares. The walk to the temple is extremely interesting in its own right.

2) Sanjusangendo

Located in Kyoto, this is Japan’s longest wooden structure at just over 100 meters. Inside is a large statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. She is accompanied by 500 statuettes of Kannon which are in apposing groups of 250 carvings. Each carving is slightly different as they are obviously all hand carved. There is a beautiful if not small garden outside. This temple has a lovely serene, and peaceful energy. Definitely worth a look.

1) Kokedera

Kokedera litterally means “moss temple” and its gardens are blanketed in moss. You must make reservations far in advance to get into this temple but it is really worth the wait. Apparently there are over 120 varieties of moss in the gardens.These moss gardens have had a huge influence on subsequent garden design in Japan. Kokedera was converted to its current state as a zen temple from its previous itteration as a shinto shrine in 1339.

How to behave when talking with Japanese people

Although there are Japanese who will speak their mind in any situation, most Japanese don’t like the disharmony of disagreeing too strongly. Westerners often get frustrated because Japanese won’t take a strong or defensible opinion on something. The Japanese, if they disagree strongly on some point, may make some noises but will quickly clam up and agree (or make ambiguous “mmmm” noises) with you if you push your point too hard.

Normal free exchanges of opinion that result in slightly heated conversation are seen as confrontational and most Japanese will try to avoid them. Continue Reading

Inviting guests and being invited

When inviting someone to your house it is customary for you to provide the food and often drinks. If you want to introduce the idea of a pot luck dinner though, that is also fine. If you are visiting someone’s house then it is polite to take a bottle of wine or some desserts or possibly candies to give to them.

Always ask if there is anything you can bring. They will say no but it doesn’t hurt to ask. Continue Reading

Business card etiquette in Japan

There have been many books written on doing business in Japan but here are a couple of basics.

Business cards (Meishi)

Always have name cards on hand, they are very important in Japan. When you meet anyone you will be expected to swap cards. If 20 people from a vendor come to your offices for a meeting they will all want to swap cards with you. Generally when you meet someone you have your card ready to pass in your breast pocket or somewhere else handy. You will introduce yourself ,“I am X”, bow, and then immediately after you have both risen, will swap cards. Continue Reading

Japanese face masks

One thing which surprises most foreigners when they come to Japan is the number of people wearing face masks. Many people wrongly assume they are wearing them to avoid pollution. In fact, they are wearing them to avoid giving people their colds or the other way around (i.e. they don’t want to catch a cold from anyone else).

Due to the swine flu epidemic frenzy and mass media hype, face masks have sold out in many shops around the country and it is now even more common to see people wearing them. Continue Reading

Name calling in Japanese

Japanese will usually call each other by last name unless they are quite close. But, it is common for people to be best friends and still call each other by last names. Most Japanese will tell you when it is ok to call each other by first name. If they give their first name from the beginning then you can use that. There are three main name suffixes; -san, -kun, chan.

San is the general respectful name to call someone by. Despite egalitarian culture in the west it is still the norm in Japan to call an older person by -san, even if they are only a couple of years older. Continue Reading

How to Bow

Bowing is done as a sign of respect when you meet someone in your private or business life. It is a very important custom in Japan and you should make an effort to do it properly. There is nothing worse than seeing a foreigner try and half do a bow by just bending the neck or upper torso.

A proper bow should come from the hips. The back and neck should be straight, eyes down. Hands slide down the side of the thighs for men and can be lightly clasped in front of the lap area for women if they please. Continue Reading

Japanese Gift Giving Customs

Japanese often buy gifts for each other. If you work at a company you are expected to buy some kind of gift when you go away somewhere in your personal time. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t tell people you went away. Generally a box of rice crackers, sweets, or whatever the local delicacy is will do. Buy something small that people can share. People actually remember when you do this as it shows consideration of your group/ company team. It is a nice gesture so maybe do it from time to time.

You don’t need to buy for the whole company, just the people in your immediate vicinity or your team. There are other times of year such as Chugen and Oseibo when gift giving happens. Continue Reading

Shoe Etiquette in Japan

The general rule is to leave your shoes at the door. In most houses there is a recessed area in the entrance before you take a step up to the house proper, or at least a threshold line. This is where you take off and leave your shoes. If possible don’t sit and take them off. Take them off standing and then leave them neatly lined up with toes pointing towards the door so they are easy to put back on when you leave (and they don’t get in the way of other people coming and going).

The rule is that if you visit anyone’s house you take off your shoes. Continue Reading

In Japan, Onsens are very popular and it pays to know how to conduct yourself inside. Firstly, most onsens are meant to be entered naked. I have heard stories of some foreigners going into public baths in their swimsuits. From a Japanese perspective this is extremely rude, a total affront to the way an onsen is supposed to be. Also, the onsen owners do not like dyed materials in their water.

Generally you don’t even take colored towels into the onsen with you; just the little white onsen towels that you get. Continue Reading