Blessings & Public Restrooms

Kyoto, the old imperial capital of Japan, is known for its rich, ancient culture and religion. In Japan, culture and religion are intertwined, and today, we visited both a Shinto shrine (Heian Jingu - above) and a Buddhist temple (Nanzenji).

At Heian Jingu, known for its torii - one of the largest in Japan (see below, left), we had the opportunity to take part in a ceremony called "gokito," which consisted of a priest reciting an incantation asking for good health and success in our studies on our behalf. The "gokito" ritual is a regular part of Japanese life - often occurring before a construction project begins, a wedding takes place, or child is born. At the conclusion of the ceremony, we are each offered a small amount of sake to drink, and a prayer for good luck written on a small piece of paper which we are supposed to keep nearby. Afterwards, we visited Nanzenji, an ancient Buddhist temple established in 1291 (below, right).

It was at Heian Jingu that I had my first encounter with Japanese public restrooms. While modern in nature (it is typical for most Japanese toilets to have bidets built in), and ceramic in structure, Japanese toilets have one defining feature that sets them apart from American toilets: they are in the ground. Lucky for us, there was an informational flier posted at the front of the bathroom, indicating how to properly use the toilet. Also lucky for us - there is usually at least one "western-style" toilet in every bathroom. However, not as fortunately - Japanese public restrooms do not carry toilet paper! You are expected to bring your own, or purchase some for your use there.