A Simple Guide to Proper Shrine Etiquette in Japan
Shrines are one of the places many people visit while sightseeing, as they’re great spots to experience Japanese culture.
Because they are places that enshrine Japan’s traditional deities, shrines have set manners you should follow.
So when you actually visit a shrine, you may often feel unsure about how to behave.
But don’t worry—by reading this article, you should be able to understand the basic etiquette to follow at a shrine.
To fully enjoy Japanese culture and the appeal of shrines, use this article as a guide and worship according to proper etiquette.
What is a Shrine Like?
A shrine is a facility of Japan’s traditional faith, Shinto.
Shinto is a Japanese folk religion and is also called Kannagara no Michi.
Another characteristic is that it has no scriptures or teachings, and no founder.
It is a polytheistic religion that believes deities dwell in many things, such as nature and everyday tools and objects.
It worships a wide variety of deities—such as those that govern natural phenomena like the sun, moon, and sea, as well as deities of land development and the performing arts—and because of their great number, they are called the yaoyorozu no kami (yaoyorozu does not mean a specific number, but expresses the vast number and variety).
The deities enshrined differ by shrine, and many shrines enshrine multiple deities.
For that reason, the blessings you can receive also vary by shrine.
Many Japanese people also visit shrines far from home for the specific blessings they seek.
When visiting a shrine, you may first think about receiving blessings, but a shrine visit is originally a place to express gratitude and wishes to the deities.
When you visit a shrine, start by expressing thanks for being welcomed and for being watched over in your daily life.
What should you wear when visiting a shrine?
There are no strict rules about what to wear, and everyday clothes are fine.
However, avoid outfits that show too much skin.
Visiting in sandals can also be considered disrespectful, so please be careful.
At some shrines you may do a lot of walking, so it’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes.
Shrine etiquette you should know
From here, we’ll introduce the etiquette you’ll want to know when visiting a shrine.
Details may differ depending on the shrine, but if you remember what we introduce here, you’ll be fine.
There’s a lot to learn, but experiencing this series of rituals is also a fun way to experience Japanese culture.
How to pass through a torii gate
A torii gate marks the boundary between the world of the deities and the human world, and it is also the gate that indicates the entrance to the shrine grounds.
For that reason, the polite and proper etiquette is to bow once before passing through the torii.
Because the center of the torii is considered the path for the deities, pass through on the left or right side.
One etiquette is to step through with your right foot first if you’re passing on the right, and your left foot first if you’re passing on the left.
When you finish your visit and leave the grounds, after passing through the torii, turn back toward it and bow once.
How to walk along the approach path
There is also etiquette for how to walk on the approach path (sando), the path within the grounds leading to the place of worship.
The center of the approach is called seichu and is considered the path the deities walk.
So when you walk along the approach, avoid the center and walk along the side.
If you need to cross the center for some reason, it’s good to nod as you cross, or stop and bow toward the shrine building.
If you’re not sure where the approach path is, just make sure you don’t walk down the middle of the road.
Temizu etiquette
Temizu (also read chozu) is the water used to purify your hands and mouth before worshipping, and it can also refer to the act itself.
The place where you do temizu is called a temizuya (also read chozuya) and has a water basin and a ladle (hishaku).
Temizu etiquette starts by holding the ladle in your right hand, scooping water, and pouring it over your left hand to wash it.
Then switch to your left hand, scoop water, and pour it over your right hand to wash it.
Next, switch back to your right hand and scoop water, then hold water in your left palm and rinse your mouth.
Finally, rinse your left hand with water, then hold the ladle upright and wash it so the water runs down the handle.
When you’re finished, place the ladle back in its original spot facing down, and you’re done.
Be careful not to put your mouth directly on the ladle, and don’t let the water you used to wash your hands flow back into the basin.
How to worship
How you worship at the shrine hall (the building where the deities are enshrined) often varies by region and shrine, but if you remember the basic “two bows, two claps, one bow,” you’ll be fine.
“Two bows, two claps, one bow” is done in the following order.
- In front of the main sanctuary, stand up straight and bow deeply at 90 degrees twice
- Bring your hands together at chest height, shift your right hand slightly downward, and clap twice
- Return your right hand, then bow deeply once more
If there is a bell at the shrine hall, ring it before doing “two bows, two claps, one bow.”
How much to give as an offering, and when
The money you put into the offering box in front of the shrine hall to show gratitude to the deities is called osaisen.
After ringing the bell, put in your osaisen before doing two bows, two claps, one bow.
So it isn’t disrespectful, don’t toss it in—place the money in carefully.
The thing people most often wonder about is how much to give, but there’s no fixed amount.
Osaisen is simply a way to show gratitude to the deities, so choose an amount you feel comfortable with.
Many Japanese people also choose based on good-luck wordplay, like “a 5-yen coin brings good connections.”
“Gokito,” a Shinto ritual for making a wish to the kami
If you want a more in-depth shrine experience, it’s also recommended to receive gokito prayers.
Gokito is a ritual in which a Shinto priest (a person who works at a shrine and conducts rituals) recites norito (words chanted by priests to the deities) to convey your request to the deities.
In Japan, many people receive gokito for Shichi-Go-San (a traditional event in which children visit a shrine at ages 3, 5, and 7), and it can also be done for prayers for good health or warding off bad luck.
If you receive gokito, you need to pay a prayer fee.
Because the fee varies by shrine and by request, please check the shrine’s official website or ask directly.
It’s often thought to be similar to oharai, but oharai is meant to remove impurities and purify body and mind.
In other words, the purposes are quite different. If you have the chance, we hope you’ll try it.
After your visit, try drawing an omikuji
Omikuji are fortune slips that tell your luck, and they’re said to contain a deity’s will or message. For that reason, be sure to draw one after worshipping.
What they predict, the names of fortunes like daikichi, and the order of those fortunes vary by shrine.
There are no strict rules for what to do with an omikuji; many people either take it home or tie it at a designated spot within the grounds.
If you look around where you drew it, you should be able to find a place where many omikuji have been tied.
If you take it home, keep it somewhere safe like a bag or wallet you carry often.
Many people take it home if it’s a good fortune and tie it up if it’s bad. If it’s a good fortune, take it home as a travel souvenir.
Goshuin, perfect as a travel souvenir
A goshuin is like a proof of worship you receive when you visit a shrine, and it includes a stamp, the date, the shrine’s name, and more.
The notebook used to have goshuin written in is called a goshuincho, and many shrines offer original goshuincho as well.
There are lots of designs, so it’s a good idea to choose one you like.
Because goshuin are proof that you visited the shrine, proper manners are to receive one after worshipping.
Open to the page you want, hand it over, and prepare the goshuin fee while you wait.
Payment is generally in cash, so don’t forget to bring some in advance.
More and more Japanese people also enjoy visiting different shrines to collect goshuin as a hobby.
If you love traveling in Japan, it’s also recommended to buy a goshuincho, collect goshuin, and keep them as a trip memento.
How shrines and temples differ, and how to tell them apart
Japan has many temples, but how do they differ from shrines?
The biggest difference is that shrines and temples belong to different religions as objects of faith.
Shrines are Shinto facilities that enshrine deities, while temples are Buddhist facilities that enshrine Buddhas.
At shrines, objects believed to be vessels for deities (yorishiro) become objects of worship, while at temples, Buddhist statues are mainly the objects of worship.
Differences also appear in the buildings: in general, places with a torii are shrines.
However, because Shinto and Buddhism have influenced each other in Japan—and there was also a period when they were merged as a national policy—some temples also have torii.
So it’s generally recommended to tell them apart by their names.
As below, check the characters at the end of the name.
- Shrines
- ○○ Shrine, ○○ Taisha, ○○ Jingu
- Temples
- ○○ Temple, ○○ In, ○○ An, ○○ Bo
Differences in worship etiquette
Because the religions they’re based on are different, the etiquette for worship differs between shrines and temples.
It’s easy to mix up these practices, so be especially careful.
At temples, the common etiquette is to put in an offering, place your hands together in front of your chest and bow once, make a wish, then bow once again.
Because temple visiting manners vary widely by sect, it’s best to check the official website in advance.
FAQ about shrine visits
Q
Is it OK to visit a shrine in the evening or at night?
A
It’s not considered bad manners, but you can’t worship after the shrine’s closing time.
Q
How can I tell a shrine from a temple?
A
If the name includes ○○ Shrine or ○○ Jingu, it’s a shrine; if it’s ○○ Temple or ○○ In, it’s a temple.
Q
What should I not do at a shrine?
A
In addition to basic manners, you shouldn’t do anything that lacks respect toward the deities, such as wearing flashy clothing or outfits that show too much skin.
Summary
In this article, we introduced the etiquette you’ll want to know when visiting a shrine.
By following proper etiquette, you should be able to experience Japanese culture more deeply.
To fully enjoy Japanese culture and the charm of shrines, use this article as a guide and visit while following the proper manners.
It should also be a great opportunity to experience a uniquely Japanese culture from a religious perspective.