When you say "going to a shrine," it feels like something special.

A large torii gate.

A long approach path.

An impressive main hall.

Famous shrines that you find in travel destinations.

Power spots featured on television and magazines.

When you imagine those things, shrines seem like places you "go out of your way" to visit.

Of course, that's enjoyable too.

Going to a shrine while traveling definitely changes the feeling. Passing through the torii gate in the air of an unfamiliar place gives you a slightly different sensation than just walking around a tourist spot. Sometimes the stairs are longer than expected, or the water at the temizuya is strangely cold, or there are more types of amulets than you imagined, and it can be surprisingly busy.

But shrines aren't only in famous places.

There's probably one nearby too.

In a residential area.

Next to a park.

On the side of a hill.

Along the road leading to the station.

Normally, you pass by them without noticing, but if you look closely, there's a small torii gate. There's a small shrine. Someone is cleaning it. A single tree stands out, standing very firmly.

I think it's okay to just go and greet those local shrines.

When you go to a shrine, you tend to think about requests.

May my work go well. May I be healthy. May my relationships become peaceful. If possible, please grant me all of these things.

It's natural for humans to want to ask for something. It doesn't seem wrong to pray when you are in trouble. In fact, people who usually act tough might finally say "please help" at a shrine.

However, if it always becomes about "taking," the relationship becomes unbalanced.

The shrine becomes like a place to visit only when you have problems.

Moreover, even though we bring many requests, on the way home, we're already looking at our smartphones and thinking about our next plans. It's quite one-sided.

Of course, I don't know if gods care about such small things.

But when considering human relationships, there are some aspects that are easier to understand.

If someone doesn't greet you normally and only comes when they have a problem, saying "please give me this, please do that," you might feel slightly annoyed.

Therefore, before asking for something, just go and say hello.

That alone changes the feeling of visiting a shrine.

If it's a local shrine, you can stop by on your walk. You don't need any special purpose.

You don't have to go for an amazing experience.

You don't have to go to confirm any benefits.

Just pass under the torii gate.

Slightly bow your head.

Put your hands together.

In your heart, say, "I came again today."

That's all.

In that short time, your posture changes slightly.

The hurried footsteps stop.

Thoughts running through your mind become a little quieter.

You return from the self who was in tasks and worries to the self standing in front of the place.

Some days you immediately feel the atmosphere of the shrine, but other days you don't understand it at all.

Perhaps there are more days when you don't understand it.

You may not feel anything.

There might be mosquitoes.

The sound of traffic from nearby roads is heard normally.

When looking for coins in front of the offering box, you might get a little flustered because your wallet doesn't have any five-yen coins.

Things like that happen.

But I think it's okay.

You don't necessarily need to feel a special sensation every time you go to a shrine. It's a bit much to expect the wind to blow, sunlight to shine, and your heart to be cleansed every time. The shrine itself would have trouble providing that kind of experience consistently.

Just greet it.

Continue doing so.

Then, a relationship with that place gradually develops.

At first, it is just a nearby shrine.

But after going there several times, you begin to understand the appearance of the trees. You notice which days they are being cleaned. You learn when flowers bloom. You realize that it's a bit dark if you go in the evening, or that it's surprisingly pleasant in the morning. These small things become apparent.

I think that a place is not just something that exists there; it also gradually grows through people's consciousness.

Someone cleans it.

Someone puts their hands together.

Someone passes by quietly.

Someone cherishes it.

These things accumulate and create the atmosphere of the place.

Conversely, if you treat a place simply as a resource to be consumed, its atmosphere will gradually become corrupted.

"I'm tired, so I'll leave everything here and go."

"I just want to receive benefits."

"Just take some pictures and that's it."

Perhaps these feelings accumulate and the place becomes less peaceful over time.

You can somehow understand this without delving into difficult spiritual matters.

The atmosphere of a well-maintained cafe is different from that of a neglected break room.

A library where many people quietly read books has a different feel than a place where someone constantly talks loudly on the phone, even though they are in the same building.

A place learns how it is used by people.

There might be places that are similar to shrines.

So, when you go to a local shrine, before receiving anything, try to show some respect for the place.

You don't need to do anything extravagant.

Don't leave trash behind.

Don't make noise.

If you take pictures, please be considerate.

Even just during your moment of prayer, put away your smartphone.

That's enough.

Those who can do more might help with a little cleaning or gather fallen leaves to the side. However, if you try too hard from the beginning, it won't last.

First, offer a greeting.

That's what will allow it to continue for a long time.

Having a place where you can simply go and greet others in your daily life is more helpful than you might think.

It doesn't mean that all your problems will be solved at the shrine on days when you have big worries.

When you return, there are still problems.

There are emails to answer.

There are dishes to wash.

There are plans for tomorrow.

But even in a short amount of time, having a place where you can adjust your posture is helpful.

It's a small support system.

There will be days when you make requests.

There will be days just for giving thanks.

There will be days when no words come out and you simply bow your head.

Local shrines don't have to be famous power spots.

You gradually build a relationship with the place.

Instead of just passing by, greet the place.

Before asking for something, say "hello."

That alone changes the distance between you and the shrine.

And probably, it will also change the distance between you and your everyday life.