In Japanese, refers to money offered to the gods or bodhisattvas. It commonly refers to money put in a , a common item at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan

Buddhist temples in Japan

Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In...

. Used to collect offerings, a saisen box is in essence a standard coin box, save for the fact that the top cover is a grate. This design allows coins to be tossed in, while still preventing the money to be retrieved easily. Those with better designs typically have grates made of round bars, or have its top surface act as a slope, allowing the money to slide into the box easily.