Visiting Temples and Shrines in Japan: Etiquette, Prayers and Goshuin
Shrines (神社, jinja) belong to Shinto and are marked by a torii gate; temples (寺, tera) are Buddhist and usually have a main hall and often incense. Visitors of any faith are welcome at both. The basics are simple: bow at the entrance, rinse your hands and mouth at the water basin, and at a shrine pray with two bows, two claps and one bow. At a temple, don’t clap. Here’s the etiquette, the Japanese words you’ll see, and how to collect goshuin stamps.
Shrine or temple?
| Shrine (神社) | Temple (寺) | |
|---|---|---|
| Religion | Shinto | Buddhism |
| Look for | Torii gate, rope with paper streamers (しめ縄), fox or lion-dog statues | Large gate (山門), incense burner, pagoda, Buddha statues |
| Names end in | 〜神社, 〜神宮, 〜大社 | 〜寺 (-ji, -dera), 〜院 (-in) |
| Prayer | Two bows, two claps, one bow | Hands together quietly, no clapping |
Step by step at a shrine
- Bow lightly at the torii before you pass through, and walk to the side of the path; the centre is said to be for the gods.
- Purify at the water basin (手水舎, temizuya): rinse your left hand, then your right, pour a little water into your cupped left hand to rinse your mouth (don’t drink from the ladle), rinse your left hand again, then tip the ladle so the remaining water runs down the handle.
- At the hall, toss a coin into the offering box, ring the bell if there is one, then bow twice, clap twice, pray silently and bow once more (二礼二拍手一礼).
At a temple
- Bow at the main gate, and step over the threshold rather than on it.
- If there’s an incense burner (常香炉), you can waft the smoke towards yourself; it’s believed to bring good health.
- At the hall, make an offering, put your hands together, bow and pray quietly. No clapping.
- Take off your shoes where you see a step up or shoe racks, and follow signs about where photography is allowed.
Words you’ll see
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お守り | omamori | Protective charm, for safety, health, study and more |
| おみくじ | omikuji | Paper fortune; tie bad ones to the rack provided |
| 絵馬 | ema | Wooden plaque to write a wish on |
| 御朱印 | goshuin | Hand-written stamp and calligraphy given as a record of your visit |
| 撮影禁止 | satsuei kinshi | No photography |
| 拝観料 | haikanryō | Admission fee (temples and gardens) |
Collecting goshuin
Many visitors collect goshuin in a special book (御朱印帳, goshuinchō). Remember it’s a record of worship, not a souvenir stamp: visit and pray first, then go to the office (授与所 or 寺務所). Useful phrases: 御朱印をお願いします (A goshuin, please) and 書き置きはありますか (Do you have a pre-written one?), for busy days when staff can’t write directly in your book.
Festivals and New Year
Shrines and temples are at their liveliest during festivals and the New Year’s first visit (初詣, hatsumōde), when crowds can be huge. See Japanese seasons and festivals. If you’re staying nearby, a ryokan is a natural pairing; see ryokan and onsen etiquette.
Get more from your visit
Being able to read a few signs, ask for a goshuin and chat with the staff makes visits far more rewarding. A few lessons before your trip, focused on the places you’ll see, go a long way. See learning Japanese before a trip.