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Shrines and Temples
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A shrine is a place for enshrining the ancient gods of Japan. Ancient deities of Japan are believed to have originated in the worship of nature, and they exist in large numbers. The most famous of all are Amaterasu Omikami (Naiku - Inner Shrine of Ise Jinja) and Okuninushi-no-Okami (Izumo Taisha). In contrast, many temples came to be constructed with the passage of time after Buddhism, originating in India, was introduced into Japan via China and the Korean Peninsula. The fusion of kami (Shinto gods) and hotoke (Buddha) in the course of Japanese history has formed our unique Japanese culture.
