I came across this wonderful viewpoint on Japanese Belief– Is it religion, is it atheism by Yukiko Murano

Sharing a shortened version

Yukiko Murano is a Tea Teacher, Head of the International Team of Japanese Tea Ceremony Omotesenke Way in Tokyo

a shortened version is given here:

Japanese live and feel with Nature. Nature are full of Spirits in Japan. 八百万の神 this is a metaphorical number of countless deities in Japanese soil. Mountains, Snow, volcano, Onsen, hot springs, Ocean, lakes, marshes, rivers, waterfalls, even wind, rain, typhoon, fog, big trees...everything are Spirits in Japan. We worship nature. The translation 'God' seems originally inappropriate, as the unique recognition 'Kami' which is right, but then may be 'Dou' is more right to explain our belief or behavior. Shintou神(道(tou-dou) is not 神(教(kyou-religion) after all. Not Allah nor God, but Kami. There is awe for the Invisibleness. Dou is the invisible restrictions and affirmations based on the individual moral criteria. Through timeless endeavour and study and research teachers of Dou teach people each of the Dou Ways. Like in fighting, mentors for Judou, Kendou, Aikidou and Sumo were needed, and in ordinary life- Flower Dou, Chadou, Kodo, Shodo. And may be how to love people 'Dou' based on moral way, which may be too traditional but not unfair. Teachers in Japan are like doyens. People pay respect to teachers. How to be a desirable individual and harmonize with others in the society. The basic answer is always in Nature. Not in Koran nor Bible.

Agricultural life-style and the constant repetition of the natural four seasons including natural disasters bring to the Japanese a stable belief that nature overwhelms, gifts and blesses, creates tragedy and sorrow. Earthquake and tsunami, typhoon and flood devour living things, but we see it as natural deeds, and try not to conquer them but try to co-exist and manage. No bible or Koran but based on the Classic forklore 'Kojiki'古事記、the mythical fable, that we believe our nation derives from. This is a reason we call ourselves: Non-God people, Atheists. But every one of us believes in natural Awe and behaves as Dou guides us.

Through the Historical coalescence, Shinto and Buddhism were together, 神仏習合 in Japan until Samurai Epoch. Then we do have Zen Temples where No Buddhist Statues are existing (some are), but priests guide people toward 'Zen' and 'Dou' mind. If you feel like questioning through the self-discipline, what is the 'Truth' of our being and how we can live our life in a right way. More philosophical than religious.

I have added here images of Ise shrine with pebbled garden -Shinto shrine (above) & Ryoan-ji dry landscape garden- Zen (below)