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Most religious sanctuaries
in Japan, whether Shinto or Buddhist, are preceded by water basins where
the visitor can "purify" him or herself with fresh water before
entering the sacred realm. At Ise, as elsewhere, the basin is provided with
metal dippers from which one may take a sip of water, or rinse one's hands.
The fountain at Ise is itself a miniature replica of a typical shrine structure,
with its simple overhanging gable roof resting on smooth cylindrical posts.
The basin itself is hollowed out of natural rock, for a typically Shinto
rustic appearance.
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