Shinto shrineA Shinto shrine (神社, jinja; archaic: shinsha, meaning: 'kami shrine') is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more kami, the deities of the Shinto religion. The main hall (本殿, honden) is where a shrine's patron kami is or are enshrined.
Japanese architectureKinkaku-ji, Kyoto, originally built in 1397 (Muromachi period)Japanese architecture (日本建築, Nihon kenchiku) has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors (fusuma) and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to be customized for different occasions.
Meiji ShrineMeiji Shrine (明治神宮, Meiji Jingū) is a Shinto shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. The shrine does not contain the emperor's grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto. HistoryAfter the emperor's death in 1912, the Japanese Diet passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration.
Buddhist temples in JapanBuddhist temples or monasteries are (along with Shinto shrines) the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan. The shogunates or leaders of Japan have made it a priority to update and rebuild Buddhist temples since the Momoyama period (late 16th century). The Japanese word for a Buddhist monastery is tera (寺) (kun reading), and the same kanji also has the pronunciation ji (on reading), so temple names frequently end in -dera (voiced) or -ji.
SanmonA sanmon (三門 or 山門) or sangedatsumon (三解脱門; lit. "gate of the three liberations") is the most important mon of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen shichidō garan, the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple. It can be often found in temples of other denominations too. Most sanmon are 2- or 3-baynijūmon (a type of two-storied gate), but the name by itself does not imply any specific architecture.
ToriiA torii (Japanese: 鳥居; [to.ɾi.i]) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of, or within, a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred, and a spot where kami are welcomed and thought to travel through. The presence of a torii at the entrance is usually the simplest way to identify a Shinto shrine, and a small torii-shaped icon is used to represent shrines on Japanese maps.
Stone lanternStone lanterns (灯籠/灯篭/灯楼; Chinese: dēnglóng; Japanese: tōrō, meaning 'light basket', 'light tower') are a type of traditional East Asian lantern made of stone, wood, or metal. Originating in China, stone lanterns spread to Japan, Korea and Vietnam, though they are most commonly found in both China – extant in Buddhist temples and traditional Chinese gardens – and Japan.
OmotesandōOmotesandō (表参道) is a zelkova tree-lined avenue located in Shibuya and Minato, Tokyo, stretching from the Meiji Shrine entrance to Aoyama-dōri (Aoyama Street), where Omotesandō Station can be found.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.