Visit a shrine

A shrine is a holy and sacred place. There are certain and traditional rules you should follow to worship when visiting those ritual places. And it would be good if you follow the rules as well, as the saying goes, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
First of all, it is an old tradition that you bow in front of a torii, a gate found at the entrance, before entering.

Manners at temizuya

Before praying and worshiping to gods, you need to clean your hands and mouth at temizuya or chozuya which is a building for cleaning hands and rinsing mouth. Cleaning with holy water hands and a mouth which are the most easily-soiled parts of your body has a meaning of purifying a body from all the uncleanness in this everyday world.

[HOW TO]
1. First, stand in front of temizuya with your face towards the water.
2. Pick up a hishaku , ladle, with your right hand and draw the water and clean your left hand.
3. Hand the hishaku to your left hand and wash your right hand.
4. Hand the hishaku to your right hand again. And pour some water in your left hand with the hishaku and rinse your mouth with the water.
5. And wash your left hand away with the water. For a person who use the hishaku next, stand it up and clean it on the handle with water left in the ladle.
6. Put the hishaku back where it was.

Manners when worshipping

Many jinjas, shinto shrines, have big bells of copper or brass hanged at the entrance of a main building. Visitors shake a bell before praying. And throw a coin in an offertory box before the bell to donate if you are willing to do. You don't necessarily have to donate or it be big money. The amount of money you throw is up to you.
Manners at worshipping are basically two bows, two claps and another bow. To take off your hat is suggested.

[HOW TO]
1. Stand straight up before gods.
2. Bow in 90 degrees down two times with your back straight.
3. Hands up to the chest and have your right hand slightly under the left hand.
4. Hands in shoulder width and put your hands together two times. And pray quietly, holding your hands togerther still.
5. After the claps, your hands remained together, move your right hand up to the same level of your left hand.
6. Take another full bow.
7. This is it. Walk away quietly from where you are.

Visit a temple

Manners applied when visiting a temple technically differ according to denominations of temples. However, even Japanese people barely know manners of denominations they don't belong to. Therefore, there are basic rules applied in any case regaredless of denominations. It is enough for you to follow the rules shown here for your visit at temples.
Bow in 45 degrees down toward a main building when passing a entrance gate.

Manners at temizuya

Temples have temizuyas as well as shrines. If there is one, you need to purify your body by washing your hans and rinsing your mouth.

[HOW TO]:The process is the same as that of shrines.
1. First, stand in front of temizuya with your face towards the water.
2. Pick up a hishaku , ladle, with your right hand and draw the water and clean your left hand.
3. Hand the hishaku to your left hand and wash your right hand.
4. Hand the hishaku to your right hand again. And pour some water in your left hand with the hishaku and rinse your mouth with the water.
5. And wash your left hand away with the water. For a person who use the hishaku next, stand it up and clean it on the handle with water left in the ladle.
6. Put the hishaku back where it was.

Manners when worshipping

Many temples have their bells where you should remember it is not possible to ring a bell or it costs you to do so. In cases temples allow you to ring it, it should be done before worshipping. How you worship is different from that of shrines. You only join your hands in prayer and don't clap as you do at shrines. This is something Japanese people can be confused at, too.
And throw a coin in a box before the bell to donate if you are willing to do. You don't necessarily have to donate or it be big money. The amount of money you throw is up to you.

[HOW TO]
1. Stand in the front of a main building. likely to be in front of an offertory box.
2. In case there are candles or incense sticks for visitors, get one a light.
3. Throw a coin in the box if you do so.
4. Quietly join your hands in prayer towards principal images of Buddha.
5. After the prayer you do, bow in 45 degrees down once.
6. When you are done, walk away quietly from where you are.

NOTICE

Manners shown here are basic forms. If you go with care and respect for your visit at those sacred places Japanese people hold in high regard, the respect you have is always understood and welcomed. Please try these ritual manners when you have a chance.

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