Japan’s temples (Buddhist) and shrines (Shinto) are active religious sites rather than museums of faith. 

Visiting these sacred places has long been an important tradition of the Japanese, especially during New Year’s, when long lines of people praying for a good year ahead form in front of major shrines and temples. Understanding this helps us approach these spaces with the respect they deserve.

Knowing the Difference

Before we explore the customs, it’s worth understanding what distinguishes these two types of sacred site. Shrines are built to serve the Shinto religious tradition and are characterized by a torii gate at the entrance. Temples are built to serve the Buddhist religious tradition and are characterized by a sanmon gate at the entrance. In simple terms, shrines are where kami (Shinto deities) reside, whilst temples are home to Buddhist practice and worship.

Entering with Intention

Your visit begins before you step through the gate. It is customary and respectful to bow before going through the Torii Gate, and you should always enter off-centre, as the centre pathway is for the deity to pass. This small gesture immediately shifts your mindset from tourist to respectful visitor.

The same principle applies at temples. Before entering the temple gate or “sanmon”, place your palms together and bow once. Do not step on the entrance threshold of the temple’s sanmon gate or the shrine’s main hall – this is common Japanese practice when entering even ordinary homes.

The Purification Ritual

Near the entrance to most shrines and many temples, you’ll find a water pavilion called a temizuya or chozuya. At the purification fountain, take one of the ladles provided, fill it with fresh water and rinse your left and right hands. Then transfer some water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit the water beside the fountain. You shouldn’t transfer water directly from the ladle into your mouth or swallow it. You will notice that quite a few visitors skip the mouth rinsing part or the purification ritual altogether – but taking part shows genuine respect for the tradition.

How to Pray at a Shrine

The prayer ritual at shrines follows a particular sequence. Ring the bell (if there is one) two or three times to signal to the gods that you have arrived. Deeply bow twice (until you reach a 90-degree angle). Clap twice, with your left hand slightly in front. Pay your respects, remembering to thank the gods as well. Deeply bow once.

Don’t worry too much about the coin you offer – the amount of money does not matter; just because you used a 500 yen coin, it does not mean that there is a higher chance of your wishes coming true.

How to Pray at a Temple

Temples follow a gentler approach. There is no need to clap your hands. Instead, many temples have incense – you can purchase a bundle by putting a coin in the offering box. After lighting the incense and extinguishing the flame by waving your hand (rather than blowing it out with your mouth), put it in the incense burner and join your hands in silent prayer. You may see many visitors fanning smoke towards their bodies, which is believed to have healing powers.

Practical Considerations

Dress modestly and behave quietly – these are places of genuine worship. It is important to avoid wearing revealing clothing and to have your hat and sunglasses off during your visit. You may be required to take off your shoes when entering temple buildings. Don’t forget to wear a good pair of socks.

Photography is generally permitted in outdoor areas but often prohibited inside buildings. Look for signage or simply ask if you’re unsure. It is considered rude to walk in front of someone else praying so please go around or wait until they are done.

Why This Matters

In 2025, Watazumi Shrine on Tsushima Island banned tourists entirely after repeated acts of disrespect. Such incidents remind us that our behaviour has consequences. These aren’t theme park attractions – they’re places where people come to pray, seek comfort, and connect with traditions stretching back centuries.

Shrines Worth Visiting

If you’d like to see these rituals in action and truly appreciate what these sacred spaces mean to Japanese people, here are some suggestions.

Surrounded by a thick forest of 100,000 towering trees, Meiji Shrine is a peaceful pocket in a busy city, making it the perfect place to experience both the optimism of Shinto and the restorative powers of nature. Located in Tokyo’s Harajuku district, it’s dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Meiji Jingu is especially popular at the start of the New Year, welcoming more visitors than any other Japanese shrine. You might even witness a traditional Shinto wedding taking place.

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto Prefecture was built in 711 and is one of the oldest and most popular shrines in Kyoto. It’s famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates winding up Mount Inari. Walking through these gates – donated by worshippers over centuries – gives you a tangible sense of how generations of Japanese people have expressed their gratitude and hopes at this sacred site.

Ise-Jingu in Mie is a collective term for 125 Shinto shrines in the area. The Inner Shrine enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, the supreme deity of Japan. This is considered the most sacred Shinto shrine in the country, and visiting here offers insight into Shinto’s deepest traditions.

Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture is possibly the oldest and tallest shrine in Japan. Visitors go to the shrine to pray for good relationships and marriage. Izumo-Taisha follows a unique worship ritual distinct from other shrines – here you clap four times rather than twice, reflecting the particular reverence this shrine commands.

Temples Worth Visiting

Todai-ji in Nara was built in 752 and is the largest wooden structure in the world. Housing Japan’s largest bronze Buddha statue, this temple offers an overwhelming sense of scale and devotion. The friendly deer roaming the surrounding park add to the otherworldly atmosphere.

Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto Prefecture was built in 780 and sits at the top of a steep hill. The wooden stage jutting out over the hillside offers stunning views of Kyoto. Visitors can also explore the various sub-temples and the Otowa Waterfall, which is believed to have wish-granting powers.

For a more contemplative experience, consider Mount Koya in Wakayama Prefecture. Mount Koya is a sacred place that brings in visitors from both Japan and abroad. As well as paying homage at the shrine, you can also take part in activities such as copying sutras, meditation, making treasures and making prayer beads. Okuno-in at Koyasan features the largest cemetery in Japan with over 200,000 tombstones. Walking through this atmospheric forest of moss-covered monuments at dusk is a genuinely moving experience.

Yama-dera is a mountain temple in Yamagata Prefecture built in 860. Visitors must hike up nearly 1,000 stone steps in order to reach the temple grounds. The physical effort required to reach this temple mirrors the Buddhist path itself, and the views from the top reward your dedication.

More Than a Photograph

Visiting a temple or shrine offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese spiritual practices. Observing worshippers perform rituals, purify themselves at the entrance of a shrine, or draw an omikuji provides a unique insight into the Japanese relationship with religion.

Temple and shrine etiquette isn’t about ticking boxes or trying to look like a local. It’s about moving through a sacred space with care. You don’t need to be perfect or know everything in advance. What matters is approaching these remarkable places with curiosity, openness and thoughtfulness.

When you take time to observe the customs – bowing at the gate, purifying your hands, stepping quietly around someone deep in prayer – you’ll find yourself slowing down and experiencing something far richer than any photograph could capture. These aren’t tourist attractions dressed up as sacred sites. They’re sacred sites that happen to welcome visitors. That distinction makes all the difference.

Hints and Tips for Visiting Japan’s Temples and Shrines

Getting There

Japan’s excellent rail network makes reaching even remote temples and shrines remarkably straightforward. Nara is easily accessible from Osaka or Kyoto by taking the JR Kansai or Nara lines with your JR Pass. If you’re planning to visit multiple cities, a Japan Rail Pass offers exceptional value and covers most major routes.

From Kyoto Station, you can access the Shinkansen bullet train to Osaka, Tokyo, and many other destinations. Local JR lines in Kyoto include the Sagano Line and the Nara Line. The JR Nara Line provides access to Tofukuji temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Uji and of course Nara.

For getting around cities, you can use an IC card, such as the ICOCA or PITAPA, to access the subway and buses during your stay. These rechargeable cards work across most public transport and save you buying individual tickets.

Getting to Nara is fairly easy – from Kyoto take the JR Nara line, from Osaka take the JR Yamatoji line, both will take you directly to Nara. The journey from Kyoto takes around 45 minutes on the rapid service.

Best Time of Year

Japanese temples and shrines are especially spectacular in the autumn and cherry blossom seasons, but that’s also when they’re the most crowded. If you want those iconic photographs with pink blossoms or fiery maple leaves, expect to share the experience with many others.

You can generally see the sakura season (cherry blossoms) in the last week of March, and fall colours peak around mid-November for the Kyoto area. Timing varies each year depending on weather conditions, so check forecasts closer to your visit.

End of November is one of the peak seasons in Kyoto due to foliage. Start looking at accommodation soon. Book something cancellable and keep checking – flexibility pays off during busy periods.

For a quieter experience, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons of early spring (before cherry blossom) or late autumn (after the leaves have fallen). Winter can be magical too, with fewer crowds and occasionally snow-dusted rooftops.

Best Time of Day

Generally the best time of day to visit is early in the morning and late in the afternoon, because the temples can get extremely crowded by midday, especially during holidays and peak seasons.

The best time to visit is as close to opening as possible, especially during peak tourist season when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. You will avoid the crowds that typically build up towards mid-morning.

A night-time visit to a shrine is sure to guarantee a completely different atmosphere and rather surreal experience. Many shrines remain open after dark, offering a peaceful alternative to daytime crowds.

Opening hours for most attractions in Nara are between 9 and 16.30, so be sure to leave early to make the most of your day. Most temples tend to close for the day between the hours of 4pm and 7pm. Plan accordingly, especially if you’re visiting multiple sites.

Entry Fees and Donations

Here’s a useful distinction to remember: Buddhist temples generally rely on entrance fees and donations for upkeep, as they are historic structures that cannot count on income from families supporting their graves. In contrast, Shinto shrines do not usually have entrance fee systems – they can rely on regular purification ceremonies and donations for good luck.

Most Japanese temples and shrines are free, but some are not. If there’s an entrance fee, it’s normally less than 500 yen (around £3) per person.

Admission prices at major shrines and temples in Japan can vary greatly from free entry to ¥1,000 (around £6) and more. Some notable examples: the admission price for Nikkō Tōshōgū is ¥1,300 (around £7.50), while a combination ticket that includes entrance to the National Treasure Museum costs ¥2,100 (around £12). The admission fees in Nara include ¥1,500 (around £9) for Hōryūji and ¥1,100 (around £6) for Yakushiji.

Please note that in the autumn foliage season and special viewing periods, some places charge a separate fee. Always check before you visit.

Bring cash (Japanese yen). You have to pay cash only – credit cards are not accepted at most temples – and there are often no ATMs nearby.

Other Practical Considerations

To go inside temple buildings, you may have to take off your shoes. This means leaving them at the entrance, or sometimes they’ll provide plastic bags for carrying them with you. Wear socks you’re not embarrassed by – and ones without holes.

Most temples and shrines can be properly explored in around 30 minutes to one hour, the exception being Fushimi Inari which needs a good two hours if you want to walk the full trail through those thousands of torii gates.

Generally speaking, entrance fees aren’t very high even for most of the famous temples. Unless you are on a super tight budget, you should not let the admission fees dictate which ones you visit. However, if you’re watching the pennies, prioritise shrines – most are free to enter.

There are lots of kimono rental shops in Kyoto and Tokyo, and you can wear these to a Japanese temple. The locals aren’t offended by foreigners wearing their traditional dress for pictures. It’s actually quite common and adds to the experience.

Photography is generally permitted outdoors but often prohibited inside buildings. Look for signage or simply ask staff if you’re unsure. And remember – put your phone away when someone nearby is praying.

Finally, pace yourself. You certainly could get templed out. Better to visit three sites mindfully than rush through ten without really experiencing any of them.