There are two dominant faiths in Japan: Buddhism and Shinto. Most Japanese follow traditions in both religions, but that does not make these faiths the same.

Buddhism reached Japan in the 6th century and is derived from the teachings of the Buddha. Buddha means "one who has awakened." Anyone who "awakens" (by attaining Nirvana) becomes a buddha, but the Buddha is the one who started the faith in the 5th century BC.

Buddha's teachings are collected in sutras, which can be found in the Tripitaka (a compilation of documents relating to Buddhist tradition). Because there is no reference to a central deity/creator, some might see Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a faith. That would be getting the wrong idea, as Buddhism is a rich and complex belief system, not just some mental exercise.

Unlike Buddhism, Shinto has no recognized originator. It is sometimes said to be Japan's official religion because it developed in that country. Shinto tradition holds that the human race is descended from kami (deities that inhabit the rocks, trees, and other natural elements of Japan), so all humans are tied to nature. Shinto shrines celebrate this harmony between people and nature.

There are no written rules to Shinto, and there is little organization of the faith, which makes it very flexible. While Buddhism is more "organized," it is also relatively flexible. This is why Japanese can comfortably adopt both Buddhism and Shinto into their lives without conflict (Buddhists argued that some of the Shinto kami were buddhas, thus helping to close the divide).

Buddhists have temples; Shintoists have shrines. In English, people who make a vocation out of Buddhism are usually referred to as "monks"; Shinto religious figures are usually called "priests."