otera & jinja

Buddhist temples (otera) and Shinto shrines (jinja) can be found almost anywhere in Japan, from spectacular ones in Kyoto to simple ones in inaka or rural areas. I am almost ashamed to say that in the 3 years I lived in Japan, I never did make the trip to Kyoto where the best of the best are located. I did, however, make a point of going to see several in Kamakura, Tokyo and one less than a 2 minute walk from my apartment, as well as the hundreds I must have seen while passing by on my standard issue granny bike. The main differences between a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple are that a shrine will have a torii or gate with two posts and a piece of wood across them near the top, while a temple will usually have a larger portal structure (often 2 stories high) and nio, a pair of warrior dieties at the entrance. If you see flowers, you are probably at a Buddhist temple and not at a Shinto shrine. Shinto shrines do not charge admission, but most of the bigger temples do charge an admission fee. Marriage and newborn blessings are associated with Shinto shrines (as well as children aged 7, 5, and 3), while Buddhist temples are often a place to remember those who have died and often have cemeteries.

	How incredible it was to actually see this symbol of Japan when I went to Kamakura, the daibutsu, or big Buddha. I was surprised at just how big it really is.
I don't even remember how many times I went to Kamakura, but I know that I went anytime someone came to visit because it was like one stop shopping to show visitors a taste of Japan. This is Hachimangu Shrine. In the first picture, you can see the bridge and the temple beyond the torii or gate.

And now on the other side of the bridge.	Moving closer, but it is so beautiful from a distance.
	Headed up all those stairs brings back memories of climbing Mount Fuji, but it is worth it.
Tokyo's Asakusa is perhaps my favorite place in Tokyo. It is said that it is reminiscent of the days of Edo (Old Tokyo). This is Kaminarimon, the very impressive gate to Asakusa's Sensoji temple. In this postcard picture (since I don't have a good picture of my own), you can see all of the brilliant colors of the shops that line the way to the temple. This is one of the best places to buy all those "very Japanese" souvenirs for family and friends. If it is Japanese, they sell it here.
	By the time I get this far, my arms are always heavy with shopping bags.

And now a little closer to home, about a one minute walk from my apartment, is another shrine. The only time I ever saw anyone there was at midnight on New Year's Eve, but the rest of the time I had the experience all to myself.

Some general things you are likely to see at most shrines. The two pictures below were both taken at Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura.

	Ema, wooden plaques on which prayers are written, are often seen near shrines. People wish for anything from good health to passing an important exam to finding someone to wed. Seeing all of those wishes all lined up in one place always brings up a powerful but indescribable feeling inside of me.
	After going through the torii, or gate, but before arriving at the shrine, there is often a basin (chouzuya) and ladles (hishaku) to rinse both hands and then pour water into one hand to rinse your mouth.

This is the cover of the tourist information I found while visiting Meijijingu Shrine, and it outlines how to act when you show up at a shrine and explains what people are doing.