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Shrines
Home » Japan » Japan - Activities and Attractions » ShrinesShinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot be viewed by anyone.
People visit shrines in order to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune. Shrines are also visited during special. Newborn babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few days after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies there.
There are tens of thousands of shrines across Japan, some of which can be categorized into a few major groups. Some of these groups are:
1) Imperial Shrines
These shrines were directly funded and administered by the government during the era of State Shinto. They include many of Shinto's most important shrines such as the Ise Shrines, Izumo Shrine and Atsuta Shrine, and a number of newer shrines built during the Meiji Period, such as Tokyo's Meiji Shrine and Kyoto's Heian Shrine. Imperial shrines can be recognized by the imperial family's chrysanthemum crest and by the fact that they are often called "jingu" rather than "jinja."
2) Inari Shrines
Inari Shrines are dedicated to Inari, the kami of rice. They can be recognized by fox statues; the fox is considered the messenger of Inari. There are tens of thousands of Inari Shrines across Japan. Kyoto's Fushimi Inari Shrine is most famous.
3) Hachiman Shrines
Dedicated to Hachiman, the kami of war, these shrines used to be popular among leading military clans.
4) Tenjin Shrines
Tenjin Shrines are dedicated to the kami of Sugawara Michizane, a Heian Period scholar and politician. They are particularly popular among students preparing for entrance exams. Tenjin Shrines can be recognized by ox statues and plum trees, Michizane's favorite trees.
5) Sengen Shrines
Dedicated to Princess Konohanasakuya, the Shinto deity of Mount Fuji, more than a thousand Sengen exist across Japan, with the main shrines standing at the foot and the summit of Mount Fuji itself.
6) Shrines dedicated to the founders of powerful clans – Some powerful clans in Japanese history established and dedicated shrines to their clans' founders.
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