Disclaimer: This article aims to provide useful information for first-time foreign travelers visiting Japan, ensuring respectful behavior and avoiding unintentional offense when visiting Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. It does not promote any specific religious beliefs but focuses on cultural understanding and appreciation.
To enhance your understanding, we recommend reading our previous article onJapanese Shinto Shrine and Buddhist Temple. How do you know which have you stepped into? first.
Steps to offer your prayer in the Shinto shrines
- Bow at the torii gate when entering the shrine grounds
- Purify yourself with water at the chozuiya(or temizuya)
- Approach the main hall and throw a coin into the offering box “Saisenbako” (賽銭箱)
- Ring the bell or gong to get the attention of the kami
- Bow deeply twice, then clap twice, and bow once more to show respect and gain the kami’s attention
- Make your prayer or request to the kami
- Bow one more time before leaving the shrine
Steps to offer your prayer in the Buddhist temples
- Enter the temple andPurify yourself with water at the chozuiya(or temizuya) if there is any. Most buddhit temple will not have this.
- light an incense (“senkō” (線香) or candles to offer it to the Buddha.
- Remove your shoes before entering the main hall, if required.
- Bow deeply before the altar upon entering the main hall.
- Toss a coin into the offering box “Saisenbako” (賽銭箱)
- Place your palms together and bow once at a 45 to 90 degree angle. There is no hand clapping at temples as compared to shrines.
- Offer your prayers or wishes to the Buddha. Some temples offer place to meditate. You can do this at this step.
- Bow lightly before leaving the main hall.
- Bow deeply again before leaving the main hall.
It is important to note that these are just general guidelines. The specific steps may vary depending on the shrine or temple. It is always best to ask a priest or monk for guidance if you are unsure of what to do.
It is mostly forgivable for foreigners to not get the steps correctly. It is the attitude of oneself that is more important when visiting these holy grounds.
Bonus Tips 1:
Steps to purify oneself at the Temizuya
A temizuya is a water basin found at the entrance of many Shinto shrines(some maybe found in Buddhist temples as well) in Japan. It is used for purification before entering the shrine. The steps to purify oneself at a temizuya are as follows:
1. Approach the temizuya and bow deeply.
2. Take a ladleful of water from the basin and pour it over your left hand.
3. Use your left hand to wash your right hand.
4. Rinse your mouth: Pour a small amount of water into your cupped hand and bring it to your mouth. Rinse your mouth with the water without swallowing it. Spit the water out into a nearby drain or designated area.
5. Clean the ladle: After performing the purification, cleanse the ladle itself by holding it upright and allowing some water to flow over the handle and the back of the ladle. This gesture is done to maintain cleanliness for the next person.
6. Bow deeply once more.
It is important to note that these are just general guidelines. The specific steps may vary depending on the shrine. It is always best to ask a priest or shrine attendant for guidance if you are unsure of what to do.
Here are some additional tips for purifying oneself at a temizuya:
- Use the ladle provided. Do not dip your hands directly into the basin.
- Be mindful of the water flow. Do not splash water on yourself or others.
- Do not waste water. Only take what you need.
- Be respectful of the temizuya and the shrine.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure that you have a respectful and enjoyable experience while purifying yourself at a temizuya.
Bonus Tips 2:
Omikuji: Otherworldly Charms
At Shinto shrines, there are small paper strips called “Omikuji” that are drawn from a wooden box in exchange for a small offering. They serve as a sort of fortune lottery, providing blessings and predictions related to various aspects of life such as health, business, and marriage.
Interestingly to know there is also a possibility of receiving a curse (or a bad luck omikuji). These curse papers are typically tied to a tree or a wall within the shrine grounds, allowing worshippers to entrust their fortunes to the shrine’s deity and seek protection from the curse.
However please note that the omikuji should just be regarded as a piece of advice, much like a compass needle of fate, to give you small pointers in your day to day life.
Bonus Tips 3:
【Terms used often in Temples / Shrines】
Chozuya (or temizuya) : Place at a shrine or temple where visitors wash and cleanse their hands and mouth.
Ichirei : Bow once.
Hishaku : Ladle for scooping up water and other liquids, consists of a bowl-shaped or cylindrical container (“go”) with a long handle attached.
Kenko : The act of lighting incense and offering it to a god or Buddha.
Kento : The act of offering a lantern to a god or Buddha, and also the lantern itself.
Rosoku : Candle
Senko : Incense hardened into a stick. Used in offerings to Buddha.
Shokudai : Candle stand used in olden times to provide indoor lighting. Frequently portable.
Waniguchi : Gong that is hung in front of a hall or temple and struck with a hanging rope.
So there you go, with these simple knowledge, you will be able to easily impress even your Japanese friends when visiting a shrine and a temple.
Do you know that Buddhism and Shintoism are 2 very large and different religion in Japan, and often practised separately by the devotees. However in some parts of Japan, these 2 religions are practised harmoniously together and you can find a mixture of the above mentioned in a same religious compound.
However these are rare and can be hard to find. Follow me @TouriiJP and @0x8Tails while I bring you to an hidden world in Japan where legends come alive and where the Kami and Buddhas co-exist with the locals till today.
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