Before eating a meal in Japan, it is always common to put your hands together (or not) and say Itadakimasu (EE-ta-da-kee-masu). It is an expression of gratitude, but its literal meaning means to receive or to accept. A more common term that is a bit similar to itadakimasu is “bon apetit”. Make sure to say it before eating!

Photo Credit: Voyapon

Often times, most restaurants in Japan will give you an oshibori as soon as you sit down. An oshibori is a hot or cold small towel (nowadays restaurants might just use one-time wipes) used to clean your hands before you eat. It is a common hospitality practice in Japan. So, if you receive a small towel at a restaurant and don’t know what to do with it, simply clean your hands with them, and then neatly fold them next to you to use throughout your meal if your hands get dirty again!

Towel form of oshibori

Wrapped one time use oshibori

On our Tokyo tours you can learn etiquette’s at a shrine. Before entering the shrine, bow once in front of the torii. When leaving the torii bow one more time. 

How to pray at Shrines:

1. Throw in desired amount of coin (10 yen is considered bad luck, 5 yen is good luck)

2. Bow twice

3. Clap hands twice

4. While keeping hands together after the clap, silently pray for desired length

5. Bow once more

*Easy to remember by following the 2-2-1 (2 bows, 2 claps, 1 bow)

Water Basin at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine on our Tokyo tours

At a shrine or temple, there will be a basin of water where you can “purify yourself”. Before going into the main grounds of a shrine or temple, people will usually wash their hands here. This is to ensure that you have cleansed yourself physically and spiritually before greeting the deity.

How to purify your body and mind:

1. Grab the water scoop with the right hand and scoop water. 

2. Wash the left hand with half the water

3. Then wash the right hand

4. Scoop water again and pour some into left hand to wash your mouth

5. Scoop water again and tilt the scoop towards you to let the water rinse the handle.

Water Basin at the entrance of a Shinto Shrine on our Tokyo tours

On one of your Tokyo tours with us you will be visiting Shrines and Temples. These are the two main religious grounds in Japan: Buddhism and Shintoism. A difference between them is that a shrine is for Shintoism while a temple is for Buddhism. A key architectural difference between the two is that a shrine will have a torii gate that stands as the entrance while a temple will not.

A torii gate standing in front of a shrine.

Photo Credit: Live Japan

Photo Credit: Amino Apps

Photo Credit: Lol Wot

Photo Credit: Gaijin Pot

Photo Credit: Live Japan