An old saying states that the Japanese are born Shinto, but die Buddhist. While not completely accurate, the phrase gives insight into the mingling and synchronicity of religions that permeate Japanese culture. During this three-hour Kyoto Temple Tour, we'll explore the Gion District of Kyoto and visit several key Shinto and Buddhist temples with an expert in Japanese history and religion. Along the way, we'll learn about the history, traditions, and rituals of both Shintoism, the native spiritual belief of Japan, and Buddhism, which was imported from China and Central Asia.

We will begin our walk at Yasaka Shrine, which is located in the historic Gion district. Gion is an area renowned for its old wooden buildings, authentic Japanese restaurants, and teahouses characteristic of the Japan of the past. The Shinto shrine represents the perfect location to outline the basic principles of this spiritual belief. We’ll be introduced to the kami, spiritual deities, as well as principles of purity and impurity within Shintoism. These tenets easily relate to the rituals we see performed daily, such as the temizu, a ritual hand washing to be conducted before entering a Shinto shrine. As Shintoism in its current form was woven together from numerous tribal spiritual beliefs, we will discuss the role of folklore in the religion and its use in propelling the nationalism expounded by the Meiji regime in the 19th century.

We’ll continue our tour through the historic streets of Gion until we reach one of the top Kyoto attractions, the Kiyomizu-dera temple. With its main hall perched atop the hills of Kyoto, the temple was established in 788 and provides spectacular views across the city. Our introduction to Buddhism begins with a discussion of its import into Japan and a basic understanding of how temple complexes are structured. During our time at Kiyomizu-dera, the proliferation of charms and amulets used to help change one’s fortunes or provide protection will become evident, and we’ll discuss how the rituals in using these charms have become part of daily life in Japan—a subject we explore with a different lens on our Beyond Zen: Kyoto Garden Tour.

We'll wrap up our walk at the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, Kennin-ji. It was founded in 1202 by monk Eisai, the character who is thought to have introduced the Zen sect (and tea drinking) to Japan. This wonderful temple lies on the edge of the historic neighborhood and will offer a contrast to the previous temples we will have just visited. Kennin-ji temple boasts both impressive paintings and screen decorations inside and classical Zen gardens and sub-temples on its grounds. It is a fitting place to end our discussion of religions in Japan and finish this walk. 

At the end of our Kyoto sightseeing tour, we'll have a stronger understanding of the roles that Shinto and Buddhism have and continue to play in Japanese culture. This knowledge will provide crucial context and a richer understanding during visits to future shrines and temples during your time in Japan. 

Hungry? Try our Kyoto Food Tour: Savoring Nishiki Market.