Temple and Shrine Etiquette in Japan: A Visitor's Guide

Correction, 8 October 2026: an earlier version told readers to walk down the middle of a shrine's approach. The center of the path is traditionally kept for the deity, so visitors walk to one side.

Visiting a shrine or temple in Japan takes about two minutes of ritual, and nobody expects a visitor to get it perfect. The short version: bow at the gate, walk to the side of the path, rinse your hands at the water basin, drop a coin in the offering box, pray, and leave quietly. Clap at shrines, not at temples. For manners outside religious sites, see our guide to Japanese etiquette.

If you lose track, watch the person in front of you and do what they do. Quiet and sincerity matter more than the exact order.

Shrine or temple?

Many sites mix the two, a legacy of more than a thousand years in which Shinto and Buddhism were practised together. If you're unsure, look for a torii.

In Tokyo, Meiji Jingu is a good place to see a large shrine, and Gotokuji, a quiet working temple, is a good place to see a small one.

The gate and the approach

Bow lightly once before you pass under a torii or through a temple gate, and again when you leave. Don't stand on the raised threshold of a temple gate; step over it.

On the approach (sandō) to a shrine, walk to the left or right, not down the middle. The center of the path is traditionally the way of the deity. Keep your voice down, don't eat while you walk, and don't stop in the middle of the path for photos.

Temizu: the water basin

Near the entrance is a stone basin with ladles, the temizuya. The rinse is a purification, not a wash:

1. Hold the ladle in your right hand, fill it, and pour a little over your left hand.
2. Change hands and pour some over your right hand.
3. Take the ladle in your right hand again, pour a little water into your cupped left hand, and rinse your mouth. Spit it out quietly beside the basin, not into it. Never put the ladle to your mouth.
4. Rinse your left hand once more, then tilt the ladle upright so the last water runs down the handle, and put it back.

Do it all with one scoop of water if you can. Since 2020, many basins have running water or no ladles at all; just rinse your hands under the flow. If the basin is dry, skip it.

At the hall

The offering. Drop a coin gently into the offering box (saisen-bako). ¥5 is the traditional choice because go-en sounds like the word for a good connection, but any coin is fine. It is an offering, not an entry fee.

At a shrine: if there is a bell rope, ring the bell first. Then bow twice, clap twice, hold your palms together for a silent prayer, and bow once more. Some shrines, such as Izumo Taisha, use a different count; a sign will tell you.

At a temple: put your palms together, pray silently and bow. Don't clap. If there is an incense burner, you can buy a bundle of incense, light it and waft some of the smoke over yourself.

Hats and shoes. Take your hat off at the hall. Keep your shoes on outdoors; take them off only where there are shoe racks, slippers or a sign, usually when you enter a temple building.

Photos, fortunes and seals

Photos. Usually fine on the grounds. They are often banned inside halls and of the main object of worship, and are always out of place at funerals, weddings and ceremonies. Don't photograph people praying without asking.

Omikuji (fortune slips). Usually ¥100–¥300, taken after you pray. If you draw a bad fortune, tie it to the rack or wire provided and leave it behind; a good one you can keep.

Goshuin (seals). A handwritten seal with the date, for a small fee. Ask at the shrine office or temple office after you pray. See our goshuin guide.

FAQ

Do I need to be Buddhist or Shinto to visit? No. Visitors of any religion, or none, are welcome. Behave as a guest would.

Do I take my shoes off? Not outdoors. Take them off when you enter a building where you see shoe racks, slippers or a sign.

Can I take photos at Meiji Jingu? Yes, on the grounds and along the forest approach. Follow any no-photo signs near the main hall and don't photograph ceremonies up close.

How much should I put in the offering box? A coin is enough. ¥5 is traditional.

What if I get the bows and claps wrong? Nobody will mind. Watch the person ahead of you and follow them.

Do I clap at a temple? No. Clapping is for shrines. At a temple, put your palms together quietly and bow.