There is a Shinto shrine in the US, near Seattle (http://www.tsubakishrine.org/). There is a Shinto shrine in Amsterdam, Holland (http://www.shinzen.nl/). However, there is no shrine in the UK, despite the long history of UK-Japan connections beginning with William Adams in 1600 and continuing to the present. Not only are there over 300 Japanese companies based in the UK, but 40,000 Japanese live in London alone.
Rica Saitoh, head priest of the Uetsuki Hachiman Shr
Ann Wright of the Japan Society notes that: “There is no Shinto priest/ess in the UK. Occasionally I get asked to find one – usually for a mixed marriage where the original ceremony has been in Japan and they want another one in the UK. I once organized a huge Japanese event at the University of Brighton and tried to find a Shinto priest to bless the event – to no avail.”
It is in response to this situation that I have been working with Rica Saitoh, head priest of the Uetsuki-Hachiman Shrine near Nara in order to establish a UK JInja. Lack of funds have so far stymied the project, and we are currently in the process of soliciting contributions from companies in Britain. If anyone has suggestions or would like to help in any way, please feel free to contact myself or Rica Saitoh.
For the moment we have gained official permission to set up a small shrine (hokora) on the land of the Marquess of Bath. This has public access and is near ‘an artists’ colony’ belonging to the estate, one of whom has agreed to look after the shrine. The project now needs funding to go ahead, and we are currently seeking to obtain a £10,000 grant in order to proceed.
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See the Facebook page here.
A slip of land at a junction of waterways which might serve as the site for the hokora.
Woodland which would be most conducive for a hokora, and which is next to the public right of way.
A view from the woodland towards the artists’ colony on the estate of the Marquess of Bath
Wooden bridge on the public right of way leading to the woods
After the wooden bridge is a hump bridge very similar to the type of Japanese bridge that marks the division between the mundane world and the sacred
This is very interesting! I have recently moved back to the UK from Japan, and was looking to see if there was a shrine in the country. It seems strange that there isn’t. I would like to be involved in this project if I can. Thanks for sharing this information!
My Japanese wife and I would be very interested in a UK Jinja … unfortunately it seems like the site is no longer up :-(
http://ukjinja.club.officelive.com/englishhome.aspx
Hello, and thank you for your interest. I’ll be meeting soon with Rica Saitoh and will pass on your message.
How is progress ? I do hope this has not been abandoned, I Live in peterborough and I am thinking about converting from no religion to Shinto, I enjoy learning Japanese language and beliefs and would love to see a shrine near me in Peterborough near London!! Hope to hear some progress. Also the link posted above about a website did not work for me on iPad, I shall try later on a PC .
Thanks.
Matthew
Thank you for your interest, Matthew. Believe it or not, the project is still pending while we await approval from the landowner. For reasons beyond our control, this is taking an inordinately long time. However, I’m assured that the idea is being looked at positively and that we could be given the thumbs up. Please keep in touch and I will also keep your name on file…
Hi, I am very interested in learning more about Shinto and its practices, any guidance on sites or recommended reading would be very much appreciated as well as any advice on Kamidana and home practices to build my understanding and appreciation.
many thanks
Paul
Good day, and thank you for the message. You can find suggestions for books by clicking on the button at the top of the Green Shinto page marked Further Reading. As for practical suggestions, a good place to start is the posting on Solitary Practice: A Ten-Step Guide (http://www.greenshinto.com/2013/02/23/solitary-practice-a-ten-step-guide/). Hope that helps. Feel free to ask further if needed. Meanwhile, I’ll add your name to the list of those in the UK interested in Shinto…
many thanks John
kind regards
paul
Hi yes i also would be very happy to see a Shinto Shrine in the UK in London even better.
Please could someone email me abouty shinto priest
attending a festival in Winchester
Good day, Mrs Dennis. Are you looking for information about someone who mentioned a Shinto priest attending the Winchester festival, or are you interested in contacting a Shinto priest to attend a festival in Winchester? I’m not quite clear…
Hi,
I am just about establishing America branch of Shusse Inari Jinja in Los Angeles where i have lived 17 years. Shusse Inari Shrine is located in Izumo Region where the hometown of Japanese Mythology and all deities in Japan gathers on fall.
I am Senior Priest of Shusse Inari Jinja, and from Shinto family. Shusse Inari Jinja is my home, and my grandfather was from Mononobe Jinja where just celebrated their 1500 years anniversary that Jinja building built.
I have been asking to establish Shinto Shrine in Los Angeles and perform services. So that I decided to establish America branch.
I am also just informed UK don’t have Jinja by the president of Shimane club in UK.
I would love to help any projects you guys have.
Good day, Izumi, and thank you very much for making the contact. Your project is very exciting and bound to be of wide interest, particuarly to people living in the area. I wonder if you have an inauguration date for the shrine in Los Angeles? (As you will know from Green Shinto postings, we are a big fan of the Izumo area and the Shimane heritage, so it is with great delight that I heard for the first time about a Shimane club in the UK!)
Just adding my interest of a shrine to this post, and also wanted to check how the progress is going, especially since the Marquess seems to have died of Covid.
Thank you for your interest. I’m afraid the project ran out of steam. I was told that a different group was working towards similar ends, so you might like to search Facebook or contact Megan Manson whom I believe would know more…