Visiting the Temples

Before entering a shrine, visitors are expected to ladle water from the purification through over their fingers, into their cupped hands to rinse their mouths and then spitting the water beside the through. People who are sick, wounded and who are in mourning are not supposed to visit a shrine though as these ailments are considered impure.

Ones inside, visitors may go to the haiden to pray. It is customary to place a few coins in the offering box before praying. Before praying one must bow deeply twice, clap hands twice and bow deeply twice ones again.

Several twisted straw ropes can be seen tied around trees and rocks and one particular rope is tied to a gong or bell. Worshippers who put a few coins into an offering box can give this particular rope a sharp pull. It is believed that by ringing the bell or gong this would wake up the gods and speed up the answer to ones wishes.

Unlike the rituals in visiting a shrine, there are no particular practises to be done in temples. Petitioners may be required to take off their shoes or bring it along with them before entering the temple grounds.

Worshippers would normally say a short prayer in front of the sacred object in the temple and dropping a few coins in the offering box, just like the practice in Shinto Shrines.

Temples usually have a large incense burner for lighting incense. Incense are lighted and burned for a few seconds before it is extinguished. Instead of blowing out the incense, one must wave their hands to put out the flame. Smoke from the incense is believed to have healing powers so visitors burning incense would fan smoke towards themselves.

Taking photographs in some shrines and temples may be allowed. It is advised that visitors should inquire first or look for signs before taking any pictures.