In Japan, you’ll see many shrines and temples. Temples are associated with Japanese buddhism, and for Japanese people, temples are where you visit for a funeral or memorial. Shrines are associated with shintoism, which are the traditional cultural and spiritual beliefs of Japan. Shinto shrines are visited when celebrating a wedding or birth, or to pray for health and success.

How to visit a shrine

When you visit a shrine in Japan, you cannot enter any of the buildings, but you are generally welcome to wander the grounds free of charge. Some famous shrines do charge a small entry fee of around ¥500. Entry fees are always cash-only.

• When entering a shrine complex through the main torii gate, you can (but don’t have to) bow before the gate as a greeting to the kami, or gods, that watch over the shrine.
• Don’t walk in the center of the path - the center is for the gods, and the sides of the path are for the visitors.
• Before praying at the main shrine, wash your hands using the running water and ladle provided: first pour water on your left hand, then your right, then tip the ladle upright to run water over the handle to clean it before placing the ladle back on the rim of the basin. Make sure to have your small hand towel with you to dry your hands.
• Pray! Etiquette varies slightly by region, so watch those in front of you first, but you’ll generally throw your 10 yen coin in the collections box first, then clap twice before bowing your head and offering your prayer to the kami. If there is a bell, ring it to make sure the gods are listening!
• After offering your prayer, you may wish to purchase an omamori, or lucky charm from the priests. Omamori are specific to each shrine, depending on the gods that are enshrined, but larger shrines will have a variety of omamori for everything from general luck, to traffic safety, to luck in school examinations. Omamori generally cost between ¥500-¥1,000 and shrines only accept cash.