When visiting a Japanese Shrine/temple...

When one visits a Japanese Shrine/Temple, there's a few things to keep in mind.
Temples are generally for Buddhism while Shinto Shrines enshrine Kami-sama (deities) from various elements.

• When walking up the stairs, try to avoid walking up on the main flight of staircase (Seichuu), as they are meant for the Buddha/Kami-sama's use.

• Before entering the main hall, cleanse your hands/mouth with the purification fountain nearby the entrance starting with your right hand then left hand. Do not touch the ladle with your mouth. Pour the water from the ladle onto your hand before cleansing your mouth. However, this is purely optional.

• When praying for basic respect, the procedure is call 二礼二拍手一礼:

1. Bow twice
2. Clap twice
3. Final bow

• For coin offering to the Buddha/Kami-sama, the procedure is:

1. Ring the gong (if available) so that Kami-sama can hear you.
2. Toss in the coin offering into the donation box
3. Bow twice
4. Clap twice
5. Praying your wish
6. Final bow.

Do you know that Japanese welcome the fumes from the incense pot as a form of blessing from Buddha? 
You may want to do the same while at a temple but do not use 2 hands!


How much value should I throw into the donation box?
Generally, the more the better. Nevertheless, Japanese believe that throwing 5yen or 5円 is the best as it means good fate in Japanese - 御縁(ごえん) 
However, avoid throwing 10yen or 10円 as Japanese believes it means end of fate in Japanese - 死縁 (しえん). If you do not have 5yen and only have 10yen, throw 2pcs of 10yen instead to avoid the loss of fate.


How to differentiate a Temple and a Shrine in Japan?

A typical Shinto Shrine:

1) One always enter a Shinto shrine through a Torii gate. 

2) A pair of guardian dogs or lions or foxes, called shisa or komainu or kitsune , often sit on each side of the entrance to a Shinto Shrine.

3) Usually a Shinto Shrine usually have suffix of the following:

・神宮 (じんぐう)
・神社 (じんじゃ)

・社 (やしろ)

Example: Fushimi Inari Shrine @ Kyoto

A typical Buddhist Temple:
1) A Buddhist temple always houses an image of the Buddha.

2) A large incense burner is usually that the front of a temple.

3) There is often a pagoda on the premises of a Buddhist temple.

Usually a Temple usually have suffix of the following:

・寺 (じ)
・寺 ( てら )
・寺院 ( じいん )

Example: Kiyomizu-dera @ Kyoto

It is interesting to note that some of the temples and shrines co-exist side by side. Kiyomizu-dera is a fine example, by itself, house a lot of smaller Shinto Shrines within its temple grounds.