In front of the giant torii, the entrance to Japanese Shinto shrines, most visitors are overwhelmed with awe. These enigmatic places of worship seem to conceal the utmost secrets in their interiors.

ISE, Japan — The steady crowds cross an arched bridge and follow a pebbled path into a forest of towering cypress trees, bowing before a simple gate that stands between them and the holiest place in ...

Shinto is Japan’s indigenous spirituality—centered on nature, ritual, and reverence for unseen forces called kami. It’s not a religion of belief, but of connection to place, tradition, and harmony.

The Lamb of God, an ancient symbol dear to most Christians, is an offensive notion to the Japanese. To them the lamb is “a dirty, stupid and cringing animal.” The word lamb is “an epithet of contempt ...

Step back in time to Nara, Japan’s captivating first permanent capital (710-794 CE). Just a short train ride from Kyoto or Osaka, this serene city offers a unique blend of ancient history and natural ...