Japan_Temple_81

A serene japanese Shinto temple, with curved tiled roofs and vermilion lacquered wood, sits majestically at the top of a majestic staircase, comprising 1000 steps that wind upward in a gentle, zigzagging pattern, through a tranquil forest of towering cedar trees. A lone samurai, clad in traditional armor, with a hint of rust and a prominent family crest on his chest, walks upward, his footsteps slow and deliberate, as if in deep contemplation.

Shinto shrines (神社, jinja) are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto "gods". Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot usually be seen by anybody. In some cases, a mountain, waterfall or rock behind the shrine building can be the object of worship.

People visit shrines in order to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune. Shrines are also visited during special events such as New Year, Setsubun, Shichigosan and other festivals. New born babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few weeks after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies there.