This page has valuable information about understanding and visiting Japan, such as a 12-hour course of history and culture, of manners and etiquette, of language, and of religion.
Not necessarily an accurate historical record, the Kojiki was principally commissioned to establish a clear line of descent from the ruling emperors of the 7th and 8th century CE back to the Shinto gods and the supreme sun goddess Amaterasu.
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In the course of this journey over two millennia, we’ll meet some remarkable people, including Hojo Masako, the “nun shogun” who ruled as shogun from behind her male relatives. We’ll also meet Shinran, the charismatic Buddhist preacher who spread his vision of salvation like a Christian gospel. The 16th-century warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi rose from humble origins to become the most powerful man in Japan, with dreams of a global empire. In the modern period, we’ll meet both warmongers and peacemakers. In the 1920s, for example, Ishiwara Kanji wrote of a coming apocalyptic war with the United States, while Nitobe Inazo was imagining a new era of peace and international cooperation.
In the last section of the course, we’ll consider Japan today. How have the past two millennia of Japanese history shaped contemporary Japan? Do decades of slow economic growth and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster spell the end of an era? What does the future hold for Japan?
Japanese Manners and Etiquette
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I'm (Cory Varga) so excited you're planning your trip to Japan. It's one of the most incredible countries you'll ever visit. Learning about Japanese customs and behaviors is part of the fun, as you will see some unusual things during your visit. It's best to familiarize yourself with the basic Japanese manners and Japanese etiquette. Manners and customs are important in Japan, and even though you are a tourist in the country, you are still expected to follow a few common rules. Don't worry, everything is straightforward and really fun to do anyway.
Shrines: One of the first rules you should be aware of is to stay to the sides when entering a torii gate. The middle of the path is reserved for the gods. If you want to be extra respectful, you can make a small bow before passing under the gate.
Once you've stepped through the torii onto the sacred grounds, you'll see a basin with water. This is for purifying yourself before entering the main area of the shrine. Use the ladle to wash the left hand first, then the right. Then, pour some water onto your left hand and use it to rinse your mouth. Now you're ready to enter the shrine.
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Shinto and Buddhism are the two main faiths, which Japanese people often practice simultaneously. According to estimates, as many as 80% of the populace follow Shinto rituals to some degree, worshiping ancestors and spirits at domestic altars and public shrines. An almost equally high number is reported as Buddhist. Syncretic combinations of both, known generally as shinbutsu-shūgō, are common; they represented Japan's dominant religion before the rise of State Shinto in the 19th century. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Japan
The Japanese concept of religion differs significantly from that of Western culture. Spirituality and worship are highly eclectic; rites and practices, often associated with well-being and worldly benefits, are of primary concern, while doctrines and beliefs garner minor attention. Religious affiliation is an alien notion. Although the vast majority of Japanese citizens follow Shinto, only some 3% identify as Shinto in surveys, because the term is understood to imply membership of organized Shinto sects. Some identify as "without religion" (無宗教, mushūkyō), yet this does not signify rejection or apathy towards faith. The mushūkyō is a specified identity, which is used mostly to affirm regular, "normal" religiosity while rejecting affiliation with distinct movements perceived as foreign or extreme.
Shintō (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto) consists of the traditional Japanese religious practices as well as the beliefs and life attitudes that are in accord with these practices. Shintō is more readily observed in the social life of the Japanese people and in their personal motivations than in a pattern of formal belief or philosophy. It remains closely connected with the Japanese value system and the Japanese people’s ways of thinking and acting.
https://www.worldhistory.org/timeline/religion/
Getting Around in Japan
