Beach View

A shot of the small beach next to our hotel in Beppu, Oita, November 2007.

How to Pray at a Shrine (Express Version)

This is a shot of the shopping arcade leading up to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, Fukuoka, taken in November 2007. At shrines like this one and Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, there are always a bunch of shops on the road leading up to the shrine. You can buy all kinds of omiyage (souvenirs): snacks, dolls, food, T-shirts, key chains, crafts, ice cream, and so on.

While each shrine in Japan is different, the setup is basically the same. Usually there is a grand gate like this one. Enjoy the architecture, the greenery, the stone gardens, and enter the premises.

Of course, before you go in, be sure to stop by the water well and purify yourself. Rinse your hands using one of the many ladles provided.

After purification, walk over to the actual shrine. You will see some kind of box where you throw in an offering. Five or ten yen will do. After that, if there is a rope hanging nearby with a bell at the top, shake it and ring the bell a couple of times. Put your hands together, silently pray, bow, and you're done.