Visiting Shrines & Temples in Japan: Etiquette & Customs
Praying at the temples and shrines in Japan is largely out of tradition rather than a full-blown belief in the tenets of each religion; Japan is a nation of traditionalists rather than believers in the church-going sense. Today there are about 160,000 shrines and temples throughout Japan, acting as resolute guardians of the country’s aesthetic and social heritage. Shrines are associated with Shinto; temples with Buddhism. While they often occupy the same physical “lull” in a busy city, the technical ingenuity behind their rituals differs significantly.
Shinto is indigenous to Japan. A polytheistic religion, believers hold that gods or spirits (kami) are all around us, existing in the same world and residing in natural objects like ancient trees or waterfalls. Shinto is rooted in Japan’s earliest history, and it is likely that the title of Emperor derived from the role of chief Shinto priest. Today, this faith remains highly accessible—so much so that you can purchase a kamidana (a small home shrine) to house a household deity.
Buddhism arrived via Korea in the mid-6th century. Its survival was initially precarious, leading to a gritty power struggle between the pro-Buddhist Soga clan and the conservative Mononobe clan. The Soga victory eventually allowed Buddhism to take root, later flourishing during the Kamakura era when popular sects like Jōdo-shū and Zen were formed to bridge the gap between elite philosophy and the common person’s daily life.
Distinguishing the Sacred Sites
To the uninitiated, shrines and temples can be hard to distinguish. The easiest indicator is the name. Shrines are suffixed with -jinja (神社) or -gu (宮). The -gu suffix is a specific “vibe” indicating a higher technical rank, reserved for sites with Imperial connections, like Meiji-jingu. Temples are suffixed with -dera or -ji (寺), such as Asakusa’s famous Senso-ji. Architecturally, Shinto shrines are marked by a torii gate, while Buddhist temples feature a sanmon, a more substantial entrance.
| Feature | Shinto Shrine (Jinja) | Buddhist Temple (O-tera) |
|---|---|---|
| Main Entrance | Torii (Simple Gate) | Sanmon (Ornate House-Gate) |
| Purification | Water (Chozuya) | Water & Incense (Jokoro) |
| Prayer Ritual | Clapping (2-2-1) | Silent (Hands together) |
| Aesthetic | Natural Wood / Vermillion | Stately / Ornate / Statues |
Etiquette at the Shrines & Temples
As mentioned above, many Japanese visit the shrines and temples out of tradition. But they nevertheless do observe the rituals for entering and praying at each. Generally speaking, the rules for visiting a Shinto shrine are slightly more defined.
Shinto shrines
Perhaps the biggest giveaway for a Shinto shrine is the presence of a torii (鳥居), a gate that demarcates the boundary line between holy ground and the world outside. Pass under the gate and you are now on the deity’s path. It is standard etiquette to bow first and walk to the left or right near either post; the middle (seichu) is reserved for the god. While many casual visitors omit this, observing it provides a high-value sign of respect to the tradition’s “vibe.”
Once inside the grounds, you will see the chozuya (手水舎). This is an ablution pavilion intended to purify both mind and body. In recent years, many sites have shifted their technical ingenuity toward “ladleless” fountains or Hanachozu (basins filled with seasonal flowers) to improve hygiene. If ladles are present, the traditional ritual remains the gold standard for purification.
- Scoop a ladle of water with your right hand and pour it over your left.
- Do the same but the other way round.
- Pour some water into a cupped hand and swill it in your mouth before spitting it out on the ground beside the chozuya.
- Tip the ladle vertically so the remaining water rinses the handle for the next person.
You can now approach the main shrine (haiden) to pray. The correct technical sequence is nirei-nihakushu-ichirei (二礼二拍手一礼):
- Bow slightly and throw a coin into the offertory box.
- Ring the bell 2-3 times to let the gods know you have come to pray.
- Bow deeply twice.
- Clap your hands twice.
- Bow deeply once more.
Buddhist temples
The entrance is called a sanmon (山門), which often has the appearance of a stately, ornate house. Unlike the torii, these gates act as a resolute guardian of the temple’s architectural lull. Purify yourself at the chozuya and approach the main hall.
The ritual for praying at a temple is essentially the same as at a shrine, but with one critical distinction: do not clap. Simply put your hands together in silent prayer. At major temples, you can also purchase incense sticks to burn in the jokoro (large incense burner). Wafting the smoke toward yourself is believed to bridge the gap between physical health and spiritual clarity.
O-mikuji
In both shrines and temples, you can buy o-mikuji (approx. ¥100–¥200) to reveal your fortune. These cover everything from love and health to career. Modern “vibe coding” at major sites now includes QR codes on these slips, providing high-fidelity English translations for international visitors.
To receive your fortune, shake the hexagonal box until a stick with a number pops out. Find the corresponding drawer, take your slip, and read your fate. There are twelve levels of fortune, from “Great Blessing” to “Great Curse.”
If you receive a bad fortune, you can annul it by tying the slip to a nearby fence or pine tree. Because “pine tree” and the verb “to wait” are homophones in Japanese (both pronounced matsu), tying the fortune makes the bad luck “wait” forever, protecting you from its decree.
Ema
Literally meaning “horse picture,” ema are little wooden plaques which people hang after scribbling their hopes and wishes on the surface. They serve as a high-value collective record of the visitors’ intentions.
In ancient times, it was believed the kami travelled by horse, and affluent members of society would donate live animals. For