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TemplesandShrinesbeadfgcMenumaShodenzanTemple(KumagayaCity,SaitamaPrefecture)aOneofJapan’sgreatShodentem-ples,coverededgetoedgewithin-tricatelydetailed,handmade,vibrantwoodcarvingsthattrulyastonish.GatewaystoReligioninJapan寺Tera(Temple)ShintoandBuddhismarethetwoprimaryreligionsinJapan,andmanyJapanesepeoplefollowthepracticesofboth.ShintoshrinesandBuddhisttempleshaveexistedinrelativeharmonysincethesixthcentury.Manyoftheseplacesofworship—suchasMeijiShrineandSens¯oTemple(Sens¯oji)inTokyo,andT¯odaiTemple(T¯odaiji)inNara—arehotspotsfortourists.VisitorsaretypicallywelcometojoininthemanyuniqueandmemorablecelebrationsandeventsheldatthetemplesandshrinesacrossJapan.Shodenzanisatwelfth-centurytemple,locatedinSaitamaPrefecture,whichfea-turesasprawlingcomplexlledwithintricatecarvingsandstatues.ThetemplewasinitiallyopenedbySait¯Sanemori,whoworshipped30Thetemple’smainbuildingiscoveredinin-tricatelycarvedandbrightlypaintedwooddecorations.Prayersandsutrasarecommon-lyheardwhenonewalksthroughthetemplegrounds.InaseparatestructureistheBellBelvedere,whichchimesinthemorningsandeveningsforthelocalresidents.TheTowerofPeaceisaplacewherevisitorsmayatonefortheirsins.thedeiedspiritShoden,knownforgrantinggoodfortuneandmatchmaking.EventsareheldatShodenzanthroughouttheyearandincludecherry-blossomview-inginearlyApril,NewYear’sfestivities,andmore.ExpectanenrichingexperiencewhenyoutraveltoShodenzanTempleanytimeoftheyear.