Etiquette & taboos

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3 rules found

Cultural sensitivitiesTemples & religious sitesCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Hang ema on the designated rack, never open an omamori, return old ones to a shrine

Do

Buy an ema at the shrine office, write your wish, and hang it on the designated ema rack
Carry your omamori with you or attach it to your bag
Return old omamori to a shrine around New Year or on a later visit so it can be ritually burned
If you draw a bad fortune, tie it at the shrine's designated spot; good fortunes can be taken home
Views differ on carrying several omamori; if unsure, carry those of only one shrine

Don’t

Don't hang ema on torii gates, trees or other undesignated places
Don't write insults or curses against others on an ema
Don't open an omamori pouch to look at the talisman inside
Don't throw old omamori in the trash

Ema and omamori are offerings to and blessings from the deities, so hanging them anywhere or throwing them away is seen as disrespectful; by tradition, opening an omamori lets its power escape and it loses its protection.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: UpToGo: Should you carry an omamori with you?

Local customsTemples & religious sitesCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Temple visits: join your hands and bow, no clapping; fan out incense

Do

Bow once at the main gate before entering
Step over the threshold rather than on it
Join your hands and bow quietly before the Buddha
Light the incense, wave out the flame with your hand, then place it in the burner
Take off your shoes when asked inside halls; wear shoes that slip off easily
Check signs such as 撮影禁止 (no photography) before taking photos

Don’t

Do not step on the threshold of the gate or hall
Do not clap as you would at a shrine
Do not blow out the incense flame
Do not take photos inside the main hall where it is prohibited

These are customs, not rules: nothing happens if you get them wrong, but following them shows respect. Taking photos in a no-photo area will be stopped by staff.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: photoru: How to Visit a Temple

Local customsTemples & religious sitesCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Shrine visits: two bows, two claps, one bow

Do

Bow once when you pass through the torii, both coming and going
Walk along the sides of the approach; the center is left for the deity
At the purification fountain, wash your left hand, then your right, then rinse your mouth
At the offering box, ring the bell and make your offering to announce your visit
Pray with two bows, two claps, and one bow
Where the shrine posts its own instructions, follow them

Don’t

Do not walk down the middle of the approach
Do not touch the ladle with your lips when rinsing
Do not photograph or film in front of the main hall
Do not bring drones into the shrine grounds

These are customs, not rules: nothing happens if you get them wrong, but following them shows respect. Bans on photos and drones depend on each shrine's rules.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: JNTO: Two Bows and Two Claps – the Ins and Outs of Shinto Shrines