Japan is a country with many religious traditions. Shintoism and Buddhism are the two main religions practiced in Japan.
Shintoism is considered the traditional religion of Japan. It has been practiced for millennia and focuses on nature, ancestors and deities. Shintoism believes in a wide variety of kami or deities, which may be associated with natural forces or important human beings. Shinto temples are often associated with natural places of worship such as hot springs, waterfalls and sacred trees. Shinto ceremonies include prayers, offerings and purifications.
Buddhism arrived in Japan in the 6th century, it was imported from China and Korea. It quickly developed and was adopted by imperial and aristocratic elites. Japanese Buddhism is mainly of two schools: Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. It is practiced in Buddhist temples, and ceremonies include meditation, prayers and offerings.
There are also other religious practices in Japan, such as nature cults, ancestor cults, animist spirituality, esoteric practices, new age practices, etc. Japan is a country where different religious traditions coexist, it is for this reason that one can find in the same place elements of several religious practices. The Japanese tend to practice several religions at the same time, which is why Japan is often considered a country with multiple spiritualities.
