Visiting the Shrine

The Shinto shrine is a place to go for festive events, such as commemorating the birth of a baby, sumo festivals, New Year's luck, Children's Shichi-go-san (3-5-7 age event) and other happy events. Every town has a shrine and villages have a sub-shrine, like the baby of the main one, which is probably related to an even great one.

SHRINE ETIQUETTE requires that you wash your hands at the fountain, using the dippers provided. You should also rinse your mouth (if you feel it is unclean, just make the gesture). You approach the shrine, toss a 5-Yen coin (or larger) into the box, grab hold of the big rope and shake the bell, clap twice (to alert the nature gods that you are there) and then put your hands together in prayer to make your wish.

At New Year's, there is a red box or a booth where you can put in your money (starting at 100yen usually) to buy a good luck paper, or These will detail what kind of luck you will have in the year and what to expect in every aspect of life!

There are other "souvenir" charms to purchase.