Road Side Shrines and Temples of Japan

Japan’s Roadside Shrines

In Japan, many people identify as practitioners of both Shintoism and Buddhism. About 70% of the population identifies with Shintoism, and around 60% with Buddhism—many people practice both. It’s common to follow Shinto rituals for life events such as births and weddings, and Buddhist rituals for death and funerals.

Both faiths have primary places of worship. Buddhists have temples (tera), where followers worship Buddha and practice Buddhist teachings. Shintoists have shrines (jinja), sacred spaces to honor kami—spirits found in nature, or spirits of ancestors and historical figures.

While temples and shrines may share some physical similarities, they are not the same and not interchangeable. At a temple, visitors are greeted by the sanmon gate; at a shrine, it’s the iconic torii gate. A temple houses a statue of Buddha, while a shrine contains a representation of a kami.

When visiting Japan, there are many famous temples and shrines worth seeing, even if you only have limited time to explore the countryside. Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, with its striking pagoda, and Fushimi Inari Shrine outside Kyoto, with its thousands of torii gates, are both lovely places to visit.

But there are also countless smaller temples and shrines hidden in plain sight—nestled between homes, shops, and train stations. These little sanctuaries often stand quietly beside vending machines or tucked along roadside corners. They usually go unnoticed by all except the local residents. I’ve found many simply by chance or through the tip of a kind local.

Despite their size, these shrines serve an important role in their communities. They are places where a salaryman might pause to ask Buddha for clarity, or where a student might quickly seek help from a deity before heading to class. In Japan, spirituality lives in the everyday, and these roadside shrines form a living network of quiet reverence. Though small, they are deeply meaningful.

When approaching a temple or shrine, always be respectful. If you are at a shrine there will be a torii gate, the large, orange entrance. At the gate bow once before passing through. Near the entrance, there is usually a purification station with a ladle and water basin—use it to wash your hands. When making an offering, drop a 5-yen coin into the offertory box. If you approach the altar, bow twice, clap twice (to get the attention of the kami), express your prayer or wish, then bow once more.

At a temple you will approach a similar gate called a sanmon. After the sanmon you will enter and use the use the chōzuya (purification fountain). Before entering you will purify yourself by using the chōzuya where you brush the incense smoke over your body and head. Then you make an offering by gently tossing a coin into the offering box as a sign of respect. Here you do not clap your hands, but instead, press your palms together quietly (gassho) and bow slightly.

And remember—no selfies on the altar. It’s tacky, and there are usually others waiting for a quiet moment with the divine.