How to Respectfully Experience Japanese Shrines and Temples

Nikko shrine (c) RDB 2017
- There are wells (purification fountains) on the way into shrines and temples, and if you rinse your hands, try to avoid touching the ladle anywhere but the handle, and pour used water into the gutter. You can also pour some water into your hand to rinse your mouth (don’t drink).
- If you want to worship at a Shinto shrine, when you get to the offering hall toss some coinage into the offering box. If there is a bell, ring it, bow two times, clap your hands twice, and then bow one more time.
- Don’t eat or drink anything other than water in the shrine or temple.
- Be quiet and respectful; these are holy places.
Being Polite In While Traveling by Train in Japan

The shinkansen (c) ABR 2015
- When waiting to get on the train, pay attention to the lines painted on the sidewalk, and be sure to stand in line.
- Don’t talk on your phone; if chatting with a pal, try to be quiet.
- If it gets crowded, take your bag off and hold it in front.
- If you have an assigned seat, make sure that is where you sit.
- Don’t be pushy, and make sure that you leave room for other people to get on and off the train.
How to Avoid Annoying Japanese People

Crowds in Japan (c) RDB 2017
- Read ALL the signs, especially when you are in a shrine or temple. Many will tell you where you can and cannot go, and what you need to do while in any area (e.g. take off your shoes, etc).
- Stand in line. This goes for lots of different places that you might not expect depending on where you are from. We even stood in line while hiking, and while that ad hoc happens in the US sometimes, it was not ok to move up in the line in Japan.
- Learn and use please (“sumimasen,” which really means excuse me) and thank you (“arigato”) in Japanese. When you are in a restaurant, it is not impolite to hail your waiter by saying “sumimasen.”
- Be quiet if you are in an Airbnb, because people live very close to one another, and the Japanese work day/week is very long.
- Be quiet and respectful in Onsens and follow all rules while bathing.
- Watch other people, and take note of their behavior. This can serve as your guide for how to act when you are uncertain.
Other Japanese Customs You Might Want to Know About (But Which Visitors Aren’t Expected to Understand)

Tokyo (c) RDB 2017
- Bowing. In Japan, there’s a complexity to bowing in which people of different standings bow to different depths. Bowing can also be casual or formal. Luckily, visitors aren’t expected to know how this all works.
- Gift-giving is another important but complicated aspect of Japanese culture. Generally speaking, people don’t open their gifts in front of the gift-giver, and whenever you receive a gift, you are supposed to return the favor. Again, however, travelers aren’t expected to do this all properly.
Nifty
Such a useful post, thank you! I’ve been to Japan once before, but only for a few days. I’d love to go and explore the place fully!
waitingforrain28
Yes, you definitely should. Japan is amazing!
sarah
Very important tips! Another one which took us by surprise coming from NYC is not to eat or drink outside on the street. But, you can definitely eat on the Shinkansen (and other long distance trains), and there are a million food options at the train stations including elaborate boxes and beautiful sushi.
waitingforrain28
I ended up eating on the street a couple times; that’s when it pays to look like a foreigner. XDD But yes, people usually sit down to eat.
Shelby @ FLTOP
Great advice!! Thank you! I hope I get to visit Japan one day. 🙂
waitingforrain28
I’m sure you will, and you won’t be disappointed!
feldon
I love this, I plan on visiting someday and you will save me from getting into trouble lol.
I’m glad that they don’t expect us foreigners to abide by ALL of the rules, but most are pretty reasonable anyway. Thanks for taking the time to teach us some new works as well! Arigato!
waitingforrain28
I think it is always good to be polite when traveling, so you are right about the reasonable side. It’s always good to just watch people too, to see how they behave.
Sondra Barker
I have never been to Japan, but these tips would be very helpful as they are little things that never would have even crossed my mind! Thank you for sharing.
Sondra xx
prettyfitfoodie.com
waitingforrain28
No problem! Glad that they are helpful!
Female Traveler✈️ (@hrakaridi)
This post is so useful!! I love Japan 🙂
waitingforrain28
*thumbs up*
Salwa Kisswani (@SalwaKisswani)
This is great, I wish I had this post with me when I went to Japan, I defiantly had some weird moments here and there, but thanks for sharing
waitingforrain28
Yeah, us too! But mostly it was a good experience. 🙂 Live and learn (and share with others).
supermillennial
Never traveled to Japan so this is super helpful for the future!
waitingforrain28
Great!
hannanabanana
Rules of being in temples/chapels a so important! I went to Rome and people were talking loudly in the Sistine chapel (it’s so disrespectful)
waitingforrain28
Yeah, that would bother me too. >.> It totally ruins the atmosphere and it is so unnecessary.
Megan
Perfect travel tips, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!!
Megan
http://www.lifeonshadylane.com
waitingforrain28
Glad we could help!
Andrea R Warren (@WaldorfFries)
I so want to ride on a bullet train! It looks amazing:) These are wonderful tips I wish people would understand we need to respect other cultures
waitingforrain28
The bullet train is amazing! And yeah, I think that this is something that tourists need to work on more overall. Some people are so disrespectful and it ruins it for everyone. 🙁
tinahogangrant
I was surprised to learn that you can only drink water in a temple. Why is that? A place I someday hope to visit. Thank you.
waitingforrain28
Just to keep things clean. It is a sacred space.
elenasts
Great list of things to do and not to do. I cannot wait to go to Japan and see it for myself.
waitingforrain28
You will love it!
thenafranssen
Great travel trips. I don’t travel a ton, so it was nice to read something like this. Loved the pics too!
waitingforrain28
Glad that you enjoyed it!
State Express
Very beautiful and peaceful country with thought of one nation one thinking. really japan have given a new revolution in railways industry ..iam glade that japan is jast now investing on india. hope we togeather will do something Great & unique globally
waitingforrain28
Japan’s trains are amazing. I would love to see similar infrastructure just about anywhere. Will be very cool to see what India can do with some of Japan’s investment.
State Express
ya exactly my dear. let see how much our goverment is capable of doing this project as soon as possible