3 "No-Gos" When Visiting Shrines – Doing These Could Bring Bad Luck!

▲Nanzen-ji’s Wild Imperial Shrine in Kyoto’s Arashiyama (Photo by reporter Tsai Wenjun, same below.)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Many people include visiting shrines or temples as one of their must-do activities when traveling in Japan. But do you really know the correct way to worship? If you unknowingly commit certain taboos at a shrine, your luck could actually turn bad. Recently, the Japanese website *Ameba* listed 3 "no-gos" when visiting shrines. Let’s take a look at what you should pay attention to!

1. Always Wash Your Hands Before Worship
Next to the shrine’s worship hall (or before entering it), there is usually a hand-washing basin called a “temizuya.” Before worshipping, you must wash your hands and rinse your mouth to purify yourself and show respect to the deities. Never skip this step just because it seems troublesome.

The proper way to perform the “temizu” ritual is as follows: First, use your right hand to scoop water and wash your left hand, then switch and use your left hand to wash your right hand. Next, take the dipper in your right hand, pour water into the palm of your left hand, and rinse your mouth. Finally, hold the dipper upright (spout facing inward) and let the remaining water run down from the handle.

% Seasonal Shrine Visit Tips %

2. Do Not Throw Coins into the Offering Box
The offering money (called “saisen”) should not be tossed from a distance into the offering box. The correct way is to walk up to the box and gently drop the coins in.

As for how much to offer, many people put in a single 5-yen coin because its pronunciation (“go-en”) sounds similar to the word for “fate” or “connection.” Also, when worshipping, avoid carrying anything in your hands—either wear your bag or place it by your feet.

3. Do Not Tie Omikuji (Fortune Slips) to Shrine Trees
Many people may have had the experience of tying their fortune slip to a tree, but this is actually incorrect. Most shrines have a designated “omikuji rope rack” next to the fortune-drawing area. If you don’t want to take home an unlucky fortune, you can tie it there instead. Randomly tying it to a tree can harm the plant.

% Seasonal Shrine Visit Tips %