Religion

The notion of religious worship is much different in Japan as compared to the West. The majority of Japanese citizens engage in some form of Shinto and/or Buddhist rituals throughout their lives, but they're more spiritual practices than dogmatic organized worship that have become a part of secular tradition. Many Japanese citizens cannot recite a single sutra, and only do so at funerals, but still participate in these practices because it's a family tradition.

An old Japanese saying goes: 'We live as Shintoists but die as Buddhists.' This is in part due to the relationship between the two religions as a part of their lives, but also how Buddhism evolved in Japan to address the existential questions of life after death in ways that Shintoism either could not or could only do so with unpleasant answers.

In contrast, the number that follow some form of Christianity are comparatively small--only about 1% of the population. In part, this is due to bad blood that dates back to the Shimabara Rebellion and a resistance to Western influences that followed. However, Christianity has a stronger presence in private and prep schools around the country.

Temple and Shrine Etiquette

In Japan, one can tell a shrine from a temple apart fairly simply. Shrines have a torii, which is a simple gate that separates the sacred from the outside world, whereas temples utilize a sanmon, which is often more elaborate, almost like a small house.

For shrine visits in Japan, the tradition is to bow to the torii gates, while walking up the sides rather than the center, for that path belongs to the gods. This is followed by purification at a basin using a ladle to wash the left then right hand, then pouring water into your left hand to rinse your mouth.

Once at the shrine, you bow slightly, then toss a coin in the offering box. The amount does not matter, though 5-yen coins are associated with a desire for a relationship. If present, ring the bell two or three times to inform the gods that you are there, deeply bow twice, clap twice, pay your respects including offering thanks, then bow once more.

At a temple, the ritual begins the same before entering, including the purification. At that point, however, one lights an incense stick, bows, gently tosses a coin into the offering box, rings the bell 2-3 times, then bows again, places one's hands together gently to pray in silence before offering thanks, and bows one last time. It should be noted, there is no clapping, and lighting your incense stick off someone else's is taboo since it indicates you're taking on their sins.

Shrines typically have ema for purchase, wooden plaques on which one writes one's wishes and hangs up to offer to the gods. So too are omamori amulets available for good fortune in travel, childbirth, and relationships, and commemorative shrine stamps known as shuin.

For a small price at shrines, you can draw an omikuji, a slip of paper with one's fortune written on it. These can offer blessings and good wishes for the year, or a warning of bad luck. Bad luck omikuji get tied up on nearby tree branches to dispel the misfortune.

Household Altars

Within Japanese households, one will often see a kamidana (a Shinto altar), a butsudan (a Buddhist altar), or both. There is no contradiction in Japanese society to having both. Kamidana are often minimalist and wall-mounted, whereas butsudan are often more elaborate floor cabinets, decorated and containing a variety of objects associated with ancestors.

A kamidana is dedicated to household or local gods generally, whereas a butsudan is devoted to deceased family members or ancestors. While practices and prayers relating to each may be distinct, in many households, practices have blended together over time. It is not uncommon to see households with exclusively a kamidana make prayers and offerings at Obon, a Buddhist festival, or vice versa at a butsudan during Shinto festivals.

These practices are often idiosyncratic to the household and how their family has held onto their own traditions.

Festivals

Festivals in Japan are put on by both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, as there are holidays and traditional festivals that belong to one religion or the other. As an example, Hinamatsuri (or Doll Festival) is Shinto, whereas Obon is Buddhist.

Despite that, the majority of Japanese people participate in these festivals throughout their lives, as their festivals do not require commitment to one religion or the other. The Japanese public thus benefits from the syncretic relationship between the two religions.