During my stay in Tokyo, I visited Senso-ji Temple, Kanda Myojin, and Meiji Shrine. At first, I wasn’t very familiar with the difference between temples and shrines in Japan. When I asked a Japanese friend, she explained that temples are connected with Buddhism, while shrines belong to the Shinto tradition. This helped me better understand the background of the places I was visiting, since each temple and shrine has its own history and customs.
One thing I noticed while visiting temples and shrines was that people usually enter with their shoes on. However, when entering certain indoor halls, visitors may sometimes be asked to remove them.
In India, removing shoes before entering any religious place is a strict rule. Because of that habit, I felt a little uncomfortable the first time I entered Senso-ji with my shoes on.
During my visit to Asakusa, I went to Senso-ji Temple. The bright red lanterns made the temple look very beautiful. Since it is a well-known spot, the area was quite crowded, and I saw many visitors walking around in kimono. I learned about the temple’s history, the lively atmosphere of Nakamise Street, and the culture surrounding the area.
I was shown the place where visitors throw coins and pray. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any coins that day, so I simply prayed quietly. At the temple, I also drew an omikuji (fortune slip). I pulled Omikuji No. 61 “半吉 (Han-kichi) → half-blessing.”
While reading my fortune slip, my first reaction was, “What kind of English is this?” It didn’t make any sense to me. The English translation felt a little confusing. Later, after returning to India, I carefully studied the original Japanese text and understood its real meaning. I also learned that when the fortune isn’t very good, some people tie the slip at the temple, although keeping it as guidance is also common.
The next shrine we visited was Kanda Myojin. The shrine is known for blessings related to business, academics, and protection. Inside, there was a mikoshi, the portable shrine that is carried through the streets during festivals.
Another shrine we visited was Meiji Shrine. The experience there felt very peaceful. Surrounded by a large forest, it felt completely separate from the busy city of Tokyo. Before entering the main shrine area, we purified our hands and mouth at the water pavilion. Yano-sensei taught me the proper way to pray: throw a coin, bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow once. Many foreign visitors around me seemed unsure what to do and simply watched others, but I felt fortunate to be guided through the ritual and introduced to the custom.
I also wanted to buy omamori for my family and myself and was surprised by how many different types there were. Wanting everyone to receive blessings and good luck, I ended up buying six omamori.
Yano-sensei also explained that these charms are usually returned to the same shrine after about a year, where they are burned respectfully in a ritual called otakiage, and new ones are bought instead. I found this practice very meaningful, as it shows respect for the charm rather than treating it as an ordinary object.
I gave them to my family and a friend and shared what I had learned about them. They are now keeping them with care and respect.
The next article is about souvenir shopping — read it here.