Writing Out a Wish
Japan, although so well-known for its technological advancements is certainly a country where modernity and tradition meet and coexist. Shinto shrines are places of worship and intense calm that let people find sense of spirituality even in the urban jungle of Tokyo.
It is not unusual to see people praying outside of the main building of the shrine, which is used for the safekeeping of sacred objects but there are also places across Japan where rocks, trees, and mountains can act as shrines. It is all about this special connection between natural landscape and the spirits known as kami.
A Shinto custom that sparked my interest was writing out wishes and prayers on ema, small wooden plaques. I loved the idea and beautiful designs of these wishing plaques that I came across during my stay in Japan.
Tokyo
Meiji Shrine, although located in Shibuya, in one of Tokyo’s busy districts, is hidden in a heart of a tranquil forest.
Meiji Shrine
Kan’ei-ji Temple at the Ueno Park.
Tōshō-gū Shrine
Kyoto
Fushimi Inari Shrine located in southern Kyoto is renowned for its thousands of orange torii gates so it does not come as a surprise that it is possible to buy the wishing plaque resembling one of them.
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kinkaku-ji Temple is also known as the Golden Pavilion. A drawing of the famous temple is represented on some of the ema plaques.
Ema Plaques at Kinkaku-ji Temple
Ema Plaques at Ginkaku-ji Temple
Ema commonly depict the zodiac animal of the year. Yes, you have guess it – I visited Japan during the year of the goat.
Ema Plaques at Kiyomizu Temple
Kibune
I found beautiful Shinto imagery in Kibune.
Kifune Shrine
Kurama
Yuki Jinja Shrine
Nara
This is one of my favourite ema. It is more likely bought to wish for luck with the exams.
Ema Plaques at Kofukuji Temple
Kasuga Taisha Temple in Nara Park full of freely roaming deer.
Kasuga Grand Shrine
