🙏 Etiquette & Places
Shrine etiquette in Japan: how to visit properly
Where to walk, how to wash your hands, and the bow-bow-clap-clap-bow that everyone gets wrong.
Avoid these
Walking up the centre
The middle of the path is for the gods. Walk along the side as you approach.
Skipping purification
Don’t head straight to pray. Rinse your hands at the temizuya fountain first.
Clapping at a temple
Clapping is for shrines (jinja), not Buddhist temples (otera) — at temples, just bow quietly.
Do exactly this
Bow, then purify
A small bow at the torii, then rinse both hands at the fountain.
Offer a coin
Toss a coin in the box — a 5-yen “go-en” is lucky, it means “connection”.
Do the ritual
Then the move below, and a quiet wish.
The phrase locals love
2 bows · 2 claps · 1 bow
二礼二拍手一礼
Bow twice, clap twice, make your wish, then bow once. This is the shrine prayer ritual. Do it smoothly and you’ll look like you belong.
📍 at the main offering hall