In Japan, why are Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples often located near or next to each other?

Japan history experts, please have a whack at this one.

Answers:
As stated by Nutmeg, most Japanese are both Shinto and Buddhist. It is fairly common in a Japanese family setting to see parents and children celebrating Shinto rituals, students praying before exams, couples holding a wedding at a Christian church and funerals being held at Buddhist temples. Many traditional Japanese villages had both Buddhist and Shinto Shrines and since most people participated in both religions, it was good planning to put both temples close to one another.

I hope this helps.

Other answers:
Why wouldn't they be? In the UK there are often churches of different denominations close to each other, sometimes with temples or mosques nearby too, and from what I've read it's not much different in the US, so why should Japan be any different?

Why wouldn't they be? In the UK there are often churches of different denominations close to each other, sometimes with temples or mosques nearby too, and from what I've read it's not much different in the US, so why should Japan be any different?
Well, the majority of Japanese people, in a way, follow both Buddhism and Shinto. It would make sense as far as sightseeing/pilgrimages go. People would go to both, rather than one or the other.

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