To pray at a Japanese shrine, bow once at the torii gate, rinse your hands and mouth at the water basin, drop a coin in the offering box and ring the bell if there is one, then bow twice, clap twice, make your silent prayer and bow once more. That is the whole ritual, and it takes less than a minute. You do not need to be Shinto or speak Japanese to do it.

In Tokyo, shrines sit in the strangest places. In Shinjuku you can step from a street of pachinko parlours and neon straight under a vermilion gate, and the noise drops away within a few steps. People in suits stop on the way to work, bow, clap and walk on. Once you know the steps, you can join them without feeling like an outsider.

① Before you start: shrine or temple?

【How to tell them apart】 Shrines (jinja) belong to Shinto, Japan’s native faith. Temples (tera) are Buddhist. The easiest clue is the gate: a shrine has a torii, two posts and one or two crossbars, often painted vermilion. A temple gate looks more like a small building, and temples usually have Buddhist statues inside, while shrines do not.

【Why it matters】 The prayer is different. The bow-and-clap ritual in this article is for shrines. Temples have their own, simpler manners, covered in section ⑤.

② At the gate and on the path

【Bow once at the torii】 The torii marks the line between the everyday world and sacred ground. Stop just before it and give a light bow, then walk through.

【Walk to the side】 The centre of the approach is called seichu and is said to be the path of the kami (the deities). Most people walk slightly to the left or right. If you need to cross the centre, a small nod as you pass is enough.

【Hats and voices】 Taking off your hat when you pray is not required, but it is appreciated. Keep your voice down: this is a working place of worship.

③ The water basin: five quick moves

The water pavilion is called the temizuya. Rinsing here, known as temizu, is a symbolic cleansing before you meet the kami.

1. Hold the ladle in your right hand, scoop water, and pour some over your left hand.

2. Switch hands and rinse your right hand.

3. Switch back, pour a little water into your cupped left hand, and rinse your mouth with it. Spit it out quietly beside the basin, not back into the basin.

4. Rinse your left hand once more.

5. Tilt the ladle upright so the last water runs down the handle, then put it back.

【Small rules】 Never put the ladle to your lips, and do not swallow the water. Many guides say to use just one scoop for all five moves; other sources say this is a custom rather than a written rule. One scoop is simply the tidy way to do it. A small towel or tissue for drying your hands is handy.

④ At the hall: bow twice, clap twice, bow once

【The coin】 Drop a coin gently into the wooden offering box (saisen-bako). There is no fixed amount, and any coin is fine. Many Japanese people choose a 5 yen coin, because “go-en” sounds like the word for a good connection. Some people avoid 10 yen for a similar pun, but none of this is required, and sincerity counts for more than the sum.

【The bell】 If a thick rope hangs from a bell, shake it a few times. Not every shrine has one; if there is none, skip this step.

【The prayer itself】

• Bow twice — What to do: Two deep bows from the waist, back straight

• Clap twice — What to do: Hands at chest height, two clear claps

• Pray — What to do: Keep your palms together and pray silently

• Bow once — What to do: Lower your hands and give one final bow

【What to say in your head】 There are no set words. One common piece of advice is to introduce yourself first, give thanks, and only then make your wish.

【Local variations】 “Two bows, two claps, one bow” is the most common form, but not universal. Izumo Taisha in Shimane, for example, uses four claps. If a shrine posts its own instructions, follow them.

【On the way out】 After you pass back through the torii, turn around and bow once toward the hall.

⑤ At a Buddhist temple: no clapping

At temples such as Senso-ji in Asakusa, the routine is quieter.

• Offer a coin and bow lightly.

• Press your palms together at chest height and pray silently. Do not clap.

• Bow once more when you finish.

【The incense burner】 Many temples have a large incense burner near the main hall. Visitors waft the smoke toward themselves; it is said to bring good health, and toward the head, clarity of mind.

【If you clap by mistake】 Many Japanese people see clapping at a temple as a slip in etiquette, but a religious scholar quoted by Nippon.com argues the worry is overblown and that heartfelt prayer is what counts. Do not panic; just bow and carry on.

⑥ Photos and other small manners

• Photograph the place, not the people praying. Grounds and gates are usually fine to shoot. Avoid filming inside halls or during ceremonies unless signs allow it.

• Step aside after praying, so the next person can reach the offering box.

• Charms and stamps (omamori and goshuin) are sold at the shrine office, which keeps shorter hours than the grounds. Check each shrine’s own website for times.

• Follow the signs. Customs differ from shrine to shrine, and posted rules always come first.

Explore it with a local

The easiest way to learn this is to do it once with someone beside you. On the secret shrine and neon backstreets walk, a NINJA GO TOURS guide in a Ninja costume leads you from Kabukicho to a hidden shrine behind the neon and on to Hanazono Shrine, so you can practise the steps for real. An Asakusa night walk around Senso-ji is also coming soon.

FAQ

Can non-Japanese visitors pray at a shrine?

Yes. Shrines welcome visitors of any background, and bowing and joining your hands are seen as gestures of respect rather than statements of belief. Follow the basic steps quietly and you will be fine.

How much money should I put in the offering box?

There is no fixed amount, and any coin is fine. Many Japanese people offer a 5 yen coin, because 'go-en' sounds like the word for a good connection.

Do I clap at a temple too?

Generally no. Clapping belongs to Shinto shrines; at a Buddhist temple such as Senso-ji, most people press their palms together and pray silently without clapping.

What if I forget the order of the steps?

Watch the person in front of you, or simply bow, pray quietly and bow again. Sincerity matters more than perfect form, and some shrines post their own instructions, which you should follow.

Can I take photos while people are praying?

Photos of the grounds are usually fine, but avoid photographing people while they pray, and do not shoot inside halls or during ceremonies unless signs say it is allowed.