Japan Travel Fixes
Culture & Manners
- What's the difference between a shrine and a temple?
A shrine (jinja) is a Shinto site marked by a torii gate, dedicated to Shinto deities. A temple (tera/-ji) is a Buddhist site with Buddhist statues and resident monks. The easiest tell is whether there's a torii gate at the entrance.
- I don't understand how to use the water basin (temizuya) at shrine entrances
It's for purifying your hands and mouth before worship. Take the ladle in your right hand and rinse your left hand, switch it to your left hand and rinse your right hand, switch back to your right hand and use the water pooled in your left palm to rinse your mouth, then tip the ladle upright so the remaining water runs down the handle to rinse it.
- Is there etiquette for walking through a torii gate?
The center of the path is considered the deity's walkway, so the polite custom is to walk along the edge of the approach and give a small bow before passing through the gate. It's not a strict rule and no one will scold you for missing it, but it's nice to know.
- What's a "goshuin"? How do I get one?
It's a hand-written seal stamp given as proof of your visit to a shrine or temple. Bring a dedicated "goshuincho" stamp book and offer a few hundred yen at the shrine/temple office.
- How do omikuji fortune slips work?
You usually shake a box to draw a numbered stick, then take the matching paper slip, or select one directly. Fortunes range from "great blessing" down through "blessing," "middle blessing," and "small blessing," to "curse." If the result isn't good, it's common to tie it up at the site before leaving rather than take it home.
- The rules on photos, tripods, and eating at tourist sites are confusing
Photographing the inside of main halls, statues, and artwork is often banned; outdoor grounds are usually fine to shoot, but tripods or commercial photography often require permission. Even without a sign, it's safest to avoid it if you don't see locals doing it.
- Is it true escalator standing sides differ by region?
The custom that spread is standing on the left in Tokyo and the right in Osaka, leaving the other side clear for walkers. That said, more municipalities and rail companies are now actively discouraging walking on escalators altogether and asking everyone to just stand still.
- Can I photograph geisha/maiko if I see them, or enter private alleys to look for them?
Photographing or blocking the path of geisha/maiko you encounter on the street, and entering private property such as the back lanes of geisha districts, are banned by local ordinance in some areas of Kyoto (like Gion), with fines attached.
- Is eating while walking considered bad manners?
On streets known for street-food snacking (like some Osaka shopping arcades), eating right in front of the stall is the norm. Elsewhere, eating while walking is generally seen as poor manners and tends to create litter, so it's best avoided.