When you arrive at the haiden (hall of worship) at any shrine in Japan, here are five steps to follow to complete your prayer with proper etiquette. Don’t worry though if you get confused or nervous. Just calmly observe the person in front of you and follow what they did.
- Gently toss coins into the saisen (offertory) box
- Bow deeply twice
- Join your hands in a prayer position and clap twice
- Press your hands together and silently make a wish or prayer
- Bow deeply once
The beauty lies in the silence. Everyone prays quietly and respectfully, allowing space for others. During particularly busy seasons like hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year) in early January, please be mindful of other visitors and keep your prayers short, under a minute.
Learn all about shrine etiquette: https://shorturl.at/abJSc
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