Shinto, "The Way of the Gods," is a religion of Japan.  I hope to get some information up soon about Shinto.
For now, please enjoy the photos (just remember that they are copyrighted).


The Torii is a gate which marks a holy Shinto site.  Sometimes people donate them as an act of devotion
to the shrine.  Some shrines have so many of them lining the pathway, that they
create something like a covered walkway.  
A story goes that Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, once hid in a cave to escape her brother Susanowo, the Storm God.
The other Gods did many things to try to get her to come out of the cave.  
At one point, the birds sang from a perch like a torii in an attempt to entice her out.
©iStockphoto.com/Bart Parren


This is the Takahashi Inari Jinja.  A Jinja is a Shinto shrine.  You can see atop the entrance a thick rope.  This rope, called shimenawa,
marks a holy place.  Hanging down from the shimenawa are papers cut into zigzags.  These symbolize offerings to the kami, or divinities.¹
©iStockphoto.com/Douglas Bruce


Home