Visiting a Shrine

When visiting a temple or shrine there are certain rituals that you should know about.

Temple Rituals

Usually when you enter the sacred Buddhist Otera temple ground, some ritual cleansing takes place.

This is either done by washing your hands, drinking the sacred water, or burning incense and blowing smoke towards the head and hands.

Deer may be walking freely around the grounds of a temple and are viewed as messengers of the gods.

Visitors to a Shinto shrine pass through a Torii gate, and approach the central area where the gods are housed.

They must ring the bell and clap their hands loudly to attract the attention of the gods.

Then a short prayer is offered, a wish is made, and coins are tossed into the donation box.

In the grounds there are usually shops selling good luck tokens and charms.