Shinto shrines for superstitious employees and customers.

Strange as it may seem, many hotels have Shinto shrines nearby so that customers can go pray if the need takes them. Many companies do the same, very often with a shrine right beside the main company building. With companies the shrine is more often for the employees, but I suppose customers are also free to use them. I've been told by Japanese businessmen that even overseas branches will often build a shrine right next to the building. Whether they actually bring a Shinto Priest out to do all the religious details of transferring a kami to their new shrine, I don't know.

Many or most Japanese these days are not religious, but they will offer prayers at nearby shrines. This is more superstition than religion, no different than carrying around a lucky rabbit's foot. According to some Japanese religious scholars, this has always been the function of Shinto, as more of a collection of superstitious practices than a proper religion.

In the photo above, this tiny shrine is next to a hotel. In fact if you look closely, that wall on the left is the hotel. There is a busy street right beyond all the green, straight ahead. The shrine was very well maintained and nice and quiet. A good place to go to collect your thoughts and/or enjoy the green space.

	David LaSpina is an American photographer and translator lost in Japan, trying to capture the beauty of this country one photo at a time and searching for the perfect haiku.

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