We don't have our religion in Japan!? Japan has so many temples and shrines including many events and festivals of a religious nature, so it might seem obvious that they are religious. In my opinion,

We don't have our religion in Japan!?

Japan has so many temples and shrines including as well as* many events and festivals of a religious nature, so it might seem obvious that they are religious.
In my opinion, however, actually the Japanese people are actually spiritual rather than religious.
They don’t believe in God. Yet they go in droves to shrines during Obon and New Year.
Prayers write are written on votive tablets at shrines on the eve of important exams, Coming-of-Age Day, a job interview or in the quest for a suitable husband or wife.
In many ways, Japanese people treat religions (domestic and foreign) the same way as they do with fads** and traditions from overseas - borrow, adapt and use aspects when it is necessary or convenient.

A good example of this is the popularity of “Christian style” weddings in churches and hotel chapels.***
Even though they may not be very knowledgeable about other religions, Japanese people are very respectful of them.****
It has become such a deep part of their culture, so They that they don’t see this as religion anymore :(

あいこさん、すごい記事でしよ。宗教はとても面白いです。これは僕の趣味です。これを書いていただき、ありがとうございます。

I have a few specific notes, and then a few comments.

* "including" doesn't work here. "(A) including (B)" means that "B" is an example of "A." The events and festivals (B) are products of the temples and shrines (A), but the events are not shrines, themselves. You could say "temples and shrines that sponsor events and festivals" or "temples and shrines whose activities include events and festivals." I wrote "as well as" which may not be the best solution, but it is a simple solution.

** Hmmm. I agree with you that the Japanese people adapt elements of many religions and use them to fit into Japanese culture and the Japanese mind. But calling it a "fad" is ちょっと・・・. I think that is unfair. 仏教 has been part of Japanese culture for so long that the rest of the world often views it from a Japanese (i.e. Zen) perspective. And 神道 is almost as old as Japan.

*** This is a good point. You could also mention Christmas, which many Japanese people celebrate, but which has little or nothing to do with Christian belief.

**** Also a great point. This is one of the many things I respect and admire about Japanese culture.

An important question to ask is: What is religion? If it is all about faith and belief, then that includes Christianity, but leaves out most of the rest of the world's religions. If "religion" is traditions, honor, holiness, respect, and goodness, then the Japanese people are very religious.

To say that this is "spiritual" and not "religious" is just playing with words, 思います。If Japanese people have lost a connection to the history and ideas of religion, then perhaps young people in Japan should learn more about the history and philosophy of Japanese religious traditions. But I think what Japan has is beautiful, and should be celebrated. (Sorry . . . I didn't mean to give such a long speech! （笑）).

Corrections · 1

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