Shinto Shrine Guide

Shinto shrines have certain characteristics to them. There are staple buildings and features. This page will attempt to explain those things and show them with pictures from various shrines in Japan. It will also offer a guide in how to attend a shinto shrine.

Shinto Shrine Features
Typical Features of Shinto Shrines and Pictures of them.
The Torii \| The Komainu \| Purification Fountain \| Main and Offering Halls \| Stage \| Ema \| Omikuji \| Shimenawa \| Sake Offerings \| Other Features
The Torii The approach and entrance to the shrine is marked by one or more torii. While most torii are made of wood, they can be made of other material and need not be painted the customary orange and black. At right is a torii marking a cherry tree lined walkway to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura.
	The Komainu On either side of a shrine entrance, there is often a pair of guardian animals. Usually the animals are dogs, lions or foxes. A set of fox guardians signify a Inari Shrine. They are called the Komainu. At left is one of the guardian lions from the Itsukushima Shrine from Miyajima Island approximately 30 minutes south of Hiroshima
Purification Fountain Near the entrance of the shrine is a fountain to be used for purification. Before approaching the main hall one should stop to clean his/her hands and mouth. The purication fountain at right is from The Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. As this particular fountain is, they are housed in their own open-air building.
	Main and Offering Halls In a Shinto shrine, there can be a number of buildings. There is often a main hall and an offering hall. The main hall is called honden and the offering hall is called haiden. Sometimes they are combined into one building. The innermost chamber of the main hall will contain the sacred object of the shrine. Visitors will make their offerings at the offering hall. At left is the main hall from the Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto.
Stage Many shrines will have a stage for ritual dances, bugaku dance or for no theater performances. At right is Maidono or Ritual Dance Stage at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura.
	Ema At shrines there are wooden plates that visitors can write their wishes on. They then leave them at the shrine with the hope that their wishes will come true. The most common wishes include good health, success, school exams, love or wealth. The tree at right is from the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. The ema are hung on a fence around the base of the tree.
Omikuji At many shrines, visitors can purchase fortune telling papers. They are can have good luck or daikichi or they can contain bad luck daikyo. The Omikuji are fortunes tied to a tree branch. If one ties a good luck fortune it will help it to come true. If a bad luck fortune is tied to a tree, it can be avoided.
	Shimenawa A shimenawa is a straw rope with white zigzag paper strips called gohei. Wherever there is a shimenawa, there is something sacred. Often they hang from torii, in front of shrines, in front of sacred trees or other objects. The picture at right is of the shimenawa in front of the Wakamiya Shrine at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura. The highest ranking sumo wrestlers or yokozuna will wear a similar rope at ritual ceremonies.
Sake Offerings One of the other common structures that can be seen at shrines the area that houses sake offerings. Sake is traditional rice wine. Sacred sake, known as omiki, is offered in order to appease Aramitama (the wild energy) and thank Nigimitama (the peaceful energy) in one of many rituals which are designed to balance the two forces. The sake offerings at left are from the Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto.
Other Features Some of the other buildings could include a house for priests and storehouses. One thing you will not see at a shinto shrine is a cemetery. Death is seen as a cause of impurity.

There are different types of shinto shrines. The following chart will explain the different types.

When visiting a shrines, one should always behave calmly and respectfully. Before you enter the shrine, there is usually a purification fountain. You should wash your hands and mouth. This ritual is called Shubatsu. When you approach the sacred object, you must announce your presence to the kami. This is done by sounding the bell in front of the altar. A person than throws a coin into the offering box, bows deeply and claps his/her hands twice. After clapping, a form of communication with the kami, another bow should follow. As is customary in many buildings in Japan, you may be expected to remove your shoes. To should always be prepared for this possibility by wearing clean socks. It is also preferred for women to wear skirts to shrines. Photography is usually permitted on the shrine grounds. It is forbidden indoors at some shrines. Watch for signs.

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July 2005 Created - | Monday, August 1, 2005 Last Revised -

Types of Shinto Shrines
Imperial Shrines (Jingu or Jinja)	These are directly funded by the government and are dedicated to the imperial family. One of the most famous modern of these is Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo which is featured on this page.
Inari Shrines	These are dedicated to the god or kami of rice. Fox statues guard these shrines due to the fox's connection to the god as his messenger.
Hachiman Shrines	These are dedicated to the god of war. They are obviously most popular with the military class. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu which is pictured on this page, is one of the most famous.
Tenjin Shrines	These shrines are dedicated to a Heian scholar and politician named Sugawar Michizane. For obvious reasons, students will often pray there for success on exams. They are easily recognized by their ox statues and Michizane's favorite tree, the plum tree.
Clan Shrines	Individual clans have shrines dedicated to them .
Local Shrines	Local areas have individual shrines dedicated to