This article explores the history, beliefs and customs surrounding funerals in Japan. It discusses how funeral practices have been influenced by Buddhism and Shintoism, as well as how contemporary Japanese funeral customs have evolved due to cost considerations and preferences regarding the appearance of corpses during funerals. It also outlines traditional Japanese funeral customs such as offering food offerings at temples dedicated to deceased ancestors, dressing up corpses with kimono or haori, performing purification ceremonies using salt water or incense sticks, and scattering ashes at sea.