Torii's and Shrines

You can't go far in Japan without running into a Shinto Shrine or a Buddhist Temple. We've seen three Shinto Shrines so far and I'm not even close to being sick of them yet. I'm fascinated with Japanese architecture. I understand why Frank Lloyd Wright was so inspired by the far East. The pagoda construction is so, so cool.

This is a Torii Gate. They are usually located at the entrance of a Shinto Shine and they're supposed to symbolize the transition from the profane to the sacred. They're usually red or orange but not sure why yet.

There is a fountain there to cleanse your hands and mouth before you enter. It's completely optional but we thought it was pretty cool to honor Japanese customs.

This is another shrine very close to the base.

We are going to see a Buddhist Temple this weekend. I'll hopefully be posting many more of these.