Visiting temples and shrines in Japan: what to do, what it costs and what not to photograph

A torii gate (two posts, two crossbeams, often vermilion): Shrine (神社, jinja or 神宮, jingū). What changes: Two bows, two claps, one bow. Usually free.

A roofed wooden gate, often with guardian statues: Temple (寺, tera or -ji). What changes: Hands together, no clapping. Often paid.

Incense burner in front of the main hall: Temple. What changes: You may waft smoke towards yourself.

A rope with a large bell above the offering box: Usually a shrine. What changes: Ring it once before praying.

A common day trip: Todai-ji in Nara in the morning, then Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. One adult, collecting a stamp at each.

Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), Nara: 08:00 (opens 08:00 November–March, 07:30 April–October). Entry: ¥800, cash only. Stamp: ¥300. Other: Offering ¥100.

Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto: 13:00. Entry: Free. Stamp: Budget ¥500 (fee not published on the shrine's website as of 11 October 2026). Other: Offering ¥5.

Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto: 15:30. Entry: ¥500 (widely reported; not published on the temple's website as of 11 October 2026). Stamp: Budget ¥500 (fee not published on the temple's website as of 11 October 2026). Other: Offering ¥5.

Stamp book (御朱印帳) bought at the first stop. Stamp: ¥1,500 (Todai-ji's small book; its others cost ¥2,000–2,500).

Total. Entry: ¥1,300. Stamp: ¥2,800. Other: ¥110.

Total for the day: about ¥4,210, plus transport. The order matters: Todai-ji's hall shuts at 17:00 in winter and 17:30 in summer, and Kiyomizu-dera closes at 18:00 for most of the year (18:30 in July and August, later during night viewings), so put the paid temples earlier and leave Fushimi Inari, which publishes no closing time for its grounds, for when the light fades if you prefer. Stamp offices keep their own hours: at Todai-ji, the Great Buddha Hall writes goshuin during hall hours but several other halls stop at 16:00, and Kiyomizu-dera's stamp office opens at about 08:00, two hours after the gate. Without stamps, the same day costs ¥1,410.

1. Bow at the torii before you pass through. Walk along the side of the path; the centre is said to be for the deity.

2. Purify at the basin. Take the ladle in your right hand, fill it, and pour a little over your left hand. Switch hands and rinse your right. Switch back, pour water into your cupped left palm and touch it to your mouth (don't drink from the ladle), then spit discreetly beside the basin, not into it, and rinse your left hand once more. Finally tip the ladle upright so the remaining water runs down the handle, and put it back.

3. At the main hall, drop a coin in the box, ring the bell once if there is one.

4. Bow twice, clap twice, put your hands together for a short prayer, bow once (二拝二拍手一拝). This is the standard form given by the Association of Shinto Shrines, which notes that some shrines have their own. Izumo Taisha, for example, uses two bows, four claps and one bow at all its halls.

5. Step aside so the next person can come forward.

1. A small bow at the gate.

2. Purify at the basin if there is one, as above.

3. If there's an incense burner, you can buy a bundle (the price is posted by the burner or at the counter), light it from the communal flame, wave it out rather than blowing it, and place it in the ash. Waft a little smoke towards yourself; it's said to bring good health.

4. Offer a coin, put your palms together, bow your head and pray silently. Don't clap.

5. Ring a large bell only if a sign invites visitors to do so; at many temples it's for monks only.

A goshuin is a handwritten ink inscription with red seals, done by a priest or monk as proof of your visit to worship. It isn't a tourist stamp:

Pray first, then ask. Some temples refuse visitors who come only for the stamp.

Use a proper stamp book (御朱印帳, goshuinchō), sold at most temples and shrines. Don't hand over a diary, a notebook or a loose sheet; some places do give pre-written sheets (書き置き) when the writer is unavailable.

Hand it open at the next blank page, pay the fee (it varies by place; Todai-ji charges ¥300 per stamp, and special editions usually cost more), and wait or take a numbered ticket.

Some people keep separate books for temples and shrines. There's no national rule on mixing them; if a stamp office asks you to use a separate book, follow its lead.

Shrines: grounds are usually free and open from about sunrise to sunset; large ones may be open 24 hours. Special gardens or treasure halls charge separately.

Temples: many charge for the main hall or garden. Typical hours are 08:00 or 09:00 to 16:30 or 17:00, and some halls stop admitting visitors before closing (Todai-ji Museum's last entry is 30 minutes before it closes), so arrive at least 30 minutes early. Night illuminations in spring and autumn are separate tickets.

Payment: assume cash. Some major sites now take IC cards or credit cards at the ticket window, but many, like Todai-ji, don't. For coins and cash, see cash or card in Japan.

Crowds: the big Kyoto sites are calmest at opening time; see avoiding crowds in Japan.

On your first temple day, start at a shrine: bow at the torii, use the basin and try the two bows, two claps, one bow. Then buy a stamp book there if you want to collect goshuin for the rest of the trip (Todai-ji's small book is ¥1,500).

Todai-ji Daibutsuden admission: ¥800 adult, ¥400 primary school; cash only.

Todai-ji Daibutsuden hours: 07:30–17:30 (April–October), 08:00–17:00 (November–March).

Kiyomizu-dera ground rules: No food (capped drinks allowed), no smoking, no drones, tripods or monopods, no commercial filming or live streams, no cosplay or model shoots.

Todai-ji goshuin and stamp books: ¥300 per stamp; books ¥1,500 (small), ¥2,000 (large), ¥2,500 (special designs); several halls write stamps until 16:00.

Kiyomizu-dera admission: Not published on the temple's website (widely reported as ¥500 adult).

Kiyomizu-dera hours (2026): 06:00–18:00; 06:00–18:30 in July and August; to 21:30 (last entry 21:00) during spring, summer and autumn night viewings; stamp and amulet counters from about 08:00.

Fushimi Inari Taisha grounds hours and goshuin fee: Not published on the shrine's website.

Shrine prayer sequence: Two bows, two claps, one bow (再拝・二拍手・一拝); some shrines differ.

Izumo Taisha prayer sequence: Two bows, four claps, one bow.

Sources for this section: Todai-ji, admission hours and fees · Kiyomizu-dera, notice to visitors on etiquette in the grounds · Todai-ji, goshuin · Kiyomizu-dera, visiting and access (2026 hours) · Fushimi Inari Taisha · Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines), how to worship · Izumo Taisha, FAQ

The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.

• Todai-ji, admission hours and fees
• Kiyomizu-dera, visiting and access (2026 hours)
• Kiyomizu-dera, notice to visitors on etiquette in the grounds
• Kiyomizu-dera, opening hours
• Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines), how to worship
• Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Todai-ji, goshuin
• Izumo Taisha, FAQ
• Jinja Honcho, omikuji