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Buddhism and Hinduism contribute to the religious connection between Japan and India, but a deeper parallel lies in the polytheistic and syncretic nature of both countries' native religious traditions.
Tokyo is full of shrines and temples, and my neighborhood has its fair share as well. Several large ones are within a 10-minute walk, but my favorite is the self-effacing Nukebenten. It stands quietly at one corner of the intersection named after it, nearly lost in the middle of the tall buildings all around. Instead of skirting the shrine, you might take the path through it, pausing to pay your respects to the deity and admire the koi in the spring-fed pool.
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