Religion And Spirituality: Explorations Through Traveling In Japan

Religion And Spirituality: Explorations Through Traveling In Japan
Kevin
Kevin 
Updated
| 3 min read

One of the best places to get in touch with the spiritual side of Japan is just a short shinkansen (“bullet train”) ride from Tokyo, in the prefectures of Nagano and Niigata. Here you will find nature in abundance and easily accessible. Be it a forest leading up to and surrounding a shrine, a classic garden, or in wild, expansive form up in the mountains that seems to cozy up to you every which way, there’s something for just about everyone.

An introduction to religion and spirituality in Japan

Taking it in, and taking something away.
Source: Kevin Boynton

The old joke goes that if you ask Japanese people if they are Buddhist, 70% will say yes. If you ask Japanese people if they are Shinto, guess what? 70% will say “yes” to this too. There’s more than a kernel of truth in this humorous conduit; while Japan’s “original” religion may be Shintoism, dating back numerous centuries earlier than the 6th century introduction of Buddhism from Korea, there is a certain rather loose approach to religious affiliation in Japan. In fact, even today there are many intellectuals who still view Shintoism and Buddhism as more akin to a “series of teachings” rather than the full blown, sects-in-effect religions they have respectively grown up to be. Recognizing a foundation arguably more rooted in thought than rules, the mix-n-match nature of it all becomes easier to understand, and even more palatable to purists. And more apt to be seized upon as vehicles of spirituality.

Nature and trekking taking you to higher places

religion and spirituality: explorations through traveling in japan | nature and trekking taking you to higher places
Source: Kevin Boynton

Nothing like a walk in the mountains to clear the mind, and with interestingly shaped trees and various island views afforded by the trails of Sado Island, contemplation and even epiphanies just may come fast and furious, or perhaps more calmly and seductively. Now it is not as though Japan has a lock on inspiring mountain treks, but the nature is nevertheless astounding, and the trail conditions tend to be tip top. Further, with Shintoism being so closely tied to nature, spirituality and landscapes go hand in hand, and are perhaps even more taken to heart within this context. How overtly spiritual you want to make your walk to be is of course up to you, but it is safe to say the soaring tree-saturated trails lay the groundwork for a more spiritual experience than just a stroll in the park. Better still, with various landscapes in close proximity (an experiential fruit borne by the micro-climates of this island locale), it’s easy to mix things up within the same day if you’re keen.

Japanese cuisine and sake

Feed your soul with Japanese cuisine and sake (Japanese rice wine) in Nagano and Niigata prefectures. When it comes to pairing Japanese food with sake, purists will say all that is needed is a little salt to play off the flavors of the brew. For some, this may literally be a little salt on the tongue. For most, however, some expertly prepared tempura or, for those comfortable with doing it raw, a lineup of delectable regional sushi is sure to hit the spot. As Niigata is situated around a different coast cities like Tokyo in the east, seize the opportunity to try regional and seasonal seafood.

As for the accompanying sake, there are two vectors which indicate how the sake will dance across your palate. There’s dry vs. sweet (“karai” vs. “amai”), and then there’s the clean aftertaste (“sukkiri”) most often found in these parts, which lies in contrast to a “shikkari” brew, which lingers and blossoms across the tongue and beyond. Naturally, you’ll have to try at least a few samples to garner even a basic understanding.

Hop in a tub and set sail

religion and spirituality: explorations through traveling in japan | hop in a tub and set sail
Source: Kevin Boynton

While on Sado Island, you’d be remiss to not have a poke around the Shukunegi coastline in one of the regions famous “tub boats”. These are handmade by the locals, and came about as a fix to a problem that “cropped” up. Long ago, due to seismic activity, the sea floor right at the coast shifted up, and ships were suddenly no longer able to come all the way ashore. A little improvisation, and the tub boat was invented so boats could shuttle out goods to the ships waiting just a bit further offshore. As time passed, locals found them great for picking abalone, seaweed and turban shells. So recharge your soul by going on a short tub boat tour on calm waters. As a bonus, the town just across the way is a 17th century gem worth a nice stroll through.

Enjoy spiritual pursuits in many forms

When in Nagano and Niigata, you’d be hard pressed not to feel something more powerful than the simple physical representations around you. Still, this is far from a preachy type of spiritual quest - it’s a fun one that fulfills in the short term, and also just may plant the seeds for some long term fulfillment to come. Experience the religious sites, but also the raw nature. Gaze across the sea, but also jump in a “tub” and have fun with it.

This article is sponsored by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Hokuriku-Shin'etsu District Transport Bureau,East Japan Railway Company, Sado Tourism Association, Niigata Pref. Intl. Tourism Theme District Promotion Council, & Nagano Tourism Organization.

Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Kevin is a passionate writer and the visionary behind Pinpoint Traveler, a travel planning venture. Although born in the United States, he decided to live abroad. Having resided in Japan for nearly...Read more

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