Shinto and another Buddhist traditions in Japan

One of the reasons why I decided to go to Japan was to explore spiritual traditions. Although I had read a few things about the Japanese traditions I still didn’t know exactly what to expect.

My first journey was to Tokyo. Tokyo is not a very spiritual place, and seems very busy and materialistic. Everything seems to be about food or about shopping. But even there I found some spirituality. For the first time I tried couchsurfing (a website, where you can register and sleep for free with local families) and my host was a healer. It was a beautiful meeting, and she started to speak about spirituality in Japan. I was actually very surprised, that Japan is one of the most spiritual places you can visit. They have many temples, spiritual traditions and shamanism. You can find temples everywhere, even in busy Tokyo.

But there are a few things you should know before you enter the Shinto or Buddhist Temple.

Rules of temples and shrines:

1.Wash your hands and mouth

Before you enter the temples you have to wash your hands with pure water. To do so, you use a small ladle and water from a well which is located close to the temple. You scoop the water with the right hand and purify your left hand after you use the right hand for the same thing. In some temples you have to clean your mouth with this water, too. When you are washing yourself, please bear in the mind that you are washing away impurities in your heart as well as from your physical self.

2. Buy incense

You can also buy incense (osenko) and purify your energy with that. Buy a bundle, light them and let them burn for a few seconds. Finally, you can put the incense into the incense burner and let it smoke towards you. The smoke coming towards you is believed to have healing powers.

3. Be calm

Whenever you enter the temple, behave calmly and respectfully. Also, you can show respect by making a short prayer in front of the spiritual object. Do so by throwing a coin into the offering box, followed by a short prayer.

4. Bowing You can ring the bell, which is located in the alter. After ringing the bell bow twice in front the alter, clap your hands twice and then bow once you want to pray. Your left hand should touch the right hand in front your heart. The clapping of the hands express joy of meeting with deity and respect towards the deity.

Although it seems quite a complex process to begin with, it will get easier with repetition. And in Japan you have many places to practice, as there are temples and shrines everywhere.

If you feel like it, you can ask about your future by picking up the fortune strip, too. At most of the temples and shrines you have O-mikuji.

A short fortune strip which you can pick up by shaking the wooden box. You shake the box for as long as you feel like and after it throws one number from the box. You then give this number to the temple office and get your fortune. The fortune strip will give you a short written prediction about health, love and business. If you pick up bad fortune, you should leave the strip in the temple and not take it home. The Japanese believe that you would take bad luck home with you. I picked up the fortune strip eight times, always in the temple, where I felt it and six times I got good luck, one strip was so - so, and one bad luck. So, what is my suggestion when asking your fortune? Once you pick up good fortune, don't carry on with picking up other ones.