CULTURE
Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple: Where Spirituality Meets Art
Before you visit the enchanting Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple, learn how the temple turned its own misfortune into a place of peace, spirituality,…
buddhism
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CULTURE
CULTURE
Japan’s Disappearing Home Buddhist Altars
They're still a staple in movies and anime. But in reality, 60% of Japanese homes lack an ancestral altar. What's driving the…
FEATURED
Kyoto: A Brief History of a Timeless City
Learn about the history and tradition behind the temples and shrines that make up Japan's largest cultural tourist attraction.
CULTURE
Jigokudani: A Look at Japan’s Volcanic “Hell Valleys”
A look at how Japan's two most prominent religions' versions of hell shaped the story of its iconic jigokudani, or "hell valleys."
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Cashless Donations at Buddhist Temples on the Rise
More and more Buddhist templates are supplementing donation boxes with cashless donation systems - a trend that has some in Japan's Buddhist…
SOCIETY
Happy Science: Inside Japan’s Far-Right Religious Movement
In the mid-1980s, a Japanese salaryman declared himself the reincarnation of Buddha and Hermes. Now his religious organization claims millions of adherents.
CULTURE
Hatsumode: Japan’s First Shrine Visit of the New Year
How Japan's most popular New Years custom has changed over the centuries.
CULTURE
Mottainai Culture: The History and Philosophy of Waste in Japan
Though sometimes honored more in the breach than the observance, Japan's philosophy of "waste not, want not" strongly influences everyday culture.