Religion in Japan - Shrines and Temples
Generally, people in Japan take part in both Shinto traditions as well as Buddhist rituals as a part of everyday life, even if they do not consider themselves particularly religious. It’s common to visit both shrines (Shinto) and temples (Buddhist), depending on the occasion.
Introduce students to these two main religions and the places of worship associated with them. The video can be used on its own or with the accompanying materials to support teaching about religion in Japan. Download all lesson resources (Zip File 36.3 MB), or see below for individual resources.
Please note that the PowerPoint Presentation is in Read-Only format, which will allow you to present the slideshow but not edit. For teachers who need editable version of any of the presentations for their classroom teaching, please contact us at education@japansociety.org.uk.
Learning Objectives
- To learn about Shinto and Buddhism, and their places of worship in Japan.
- To recognise the key features of Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
Key Stage: upper KS1 - KS2
Lesson Duration: 50 minutes - 1 hour
Lesson Materials
- PowerPoint Presentation - PPT (20.5 MB)
- Lesson Plan - PDF (380 KB)
- Background Notes for Teachers: Religion in Japan - PDF (1 MB)
Worksheets and Activities
- Video Worksheet - PDF (281 KB)
- Ema Board Template - PDF (447 KB)
- Fill-in-the-Blanks Reflection Worksheet - PDF (894 KB)
- Write an Omikuji Fortune - PDF (356 KB)
- Video: Let's Visit a Shrine and a Temple
Additional Resources
Extend your learning by learning about some of Japan's religious festivals and celebrations! See the resource pages below.