What Is Buddhism In Japan? And Where Can You Find It?

Compared to the rest of the world, Buddhism in Japan was a late starter. The tenets of the philosophy were first introduced into the country back in the 6th century. As with many aspects of Japanese culture that have been adopted, adapted, and assimilated over the years, Buddhism first entered the country from Korea and China.

But why the interest in Buddhism in Japan?

What is Buddhism? What's the background?

To understand how Buddhism came to grow in Japan, it's important to know a little of the history. Buddhism is based on the principles and teachings of Gautama Buddha who was born Siddhartha Gautama in India around 485 BCE.

It's believed that Siddhartha, whose father controlled the kingdom, lived in a closed world. He finally saw the outside world for the first time in his life at the age of 29 and in those first moments he saw what are referred to in Buddhism as the "Four Sights:"

To Siddhartha, the world appeared to be full of pain. On seeing the sufferings of people, Siddhartha decided to make it his mission to find out the root cause of all the sufferings in the world. He soon abandoned his royal life, became an ascetic himself, and started meditating.

Six years into his new life, at the age of 35, Siddhartha became enlightened. He attained his goal of spiritual awakening and soon became known as The Buddha.

But still. What's the relationship between Buddhism and Japan?

Buddhism In Japan - What Is It?

When it first arrived, Buddhism in Japan was embraced by the Imperial household and the ruling classes. However. it made little impact, if any, on the average Japanese family. But over time. as acceptance and incorporation of the tenets were blended with aspects of the Shinto religion, the ideas behind the philosophy started to spread.

One example of this acceptance is seen in the belief that the "kami" spirits, an aspect of the Shinto religion, were perceived to be manifestations of the Buddhas in the Buddhist philosophy. Today the co-existence of the two independent belief systems can be seen throughout the year during a variety of special celebrations:

1. Japanese New Years Eve is celebrated at Buddhist temples in Japan by the ringing the tsura-gane bell 108 times. However the Japanese New Year is then welcomed in by visits to the local Shinto shrine. Japanese people participate in both activities and there is no sense of having to belong to one or the other religion.
2. When you get married in Japan it is traditional to have a Shinto wedding. Funerals, on the other hand, follow the Buddhist way.
3. Other Buddhist celebrations include the Obon festival in August along with both the Vernal Equinox and Autumn Equinox days on the Japanese calendar.

So what if you want to see some of the elements of Buddhism in Japan?

Kamakura near Tokyo is a great place to get a sense of Buddhism in Japan

In and around Tokyo there are many Buddhist temples, but if you're interested in this aspect of Japanese culture, a good place to visit is the Daibutsu (Big Buddha) in the grounds of Kotokuin Temple in Kamakura. The statue is hollow inside and for a few yen you can clamber up the stairs to see inside him.

Cast from bronze, the Daibutsu is believed to have taken his place on his pedestal in 1252 when Kamakura was Japan's capital city. He has had to be patched up over the years as he's been shaken and tested in a variety of ways, including being hit by a tsunami after a particularly powerful earthquake in 1498.

He certainly fits his name of Daibutsu. He's big... and heavy! He stands at 13.35 meters tall and weighs approximately 93 tons.

But besides the Daibutsu, Kamakura also has many Buddhist temples that you can explore over a day or two for a real Buddhism in Japan adventure! Still... what if you want to get an even closer look at Buddhism in Japan? Is there any way to experience it up close?

Spend Time With The Soto Sect And Experience Zen First Hand

If you'd like to experience Buddhism in Japan in a more hands on way, then the Soto Zen School might have the answer for you.

The Soto Zen School of Buddhism has temples located all over Japan with two head temples. One is the Eiheiji temple in Fukui Prefecture while the other is Soujiji temple in Tsurumi, Yokohama. If you're visiting Tokyo, Yokohama is easy to get to on the Toyoko Line from Shibuya Station and this temple offers more than just a chance to walk and look.

If you're traveling to other areas in Japan and want to visit a Soto Zen temple in a different area, see their page of information on temples for visitors. Scroll down below the map at the top of the page and you'll see a list of the prefectures with the clickable links to the temples in each one. If you follow these links it takes you to a page for that temple which includes details about opening times, meditation and other classes that you can participate in, entrance fees, and directions.

Here's a direct link to the Kichijoji temple and the Nishi Azabu temple in Tokyo.

So what's next in your Tokyo vacation planning?

If you've already figured out the activities and sightseeing you want to do while you're in Tokyo, your accommodation is the next thing that needs to be checked off your to do list. Take a look at what's available in our Tokyo hotel and accommodation section and choose a location that's going to work best for you for getting around.

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