Does anybody really know the proper procedure for the whole washing of the hands, clapping your hands, ringing the bell and dropping coins thingy? I tried to just mimic everyone around me but I always got little funny looks that may or may not have been because of foreignness.

yeah that would be akward!

I will get this guide up a.s.a.p. *Looks at his schedual * " Yep, I have some time in 2009!" p I'll try and get it up in the the next week.

wow thanks spark that would help i am going to japan soon and i wanna go to one

Sorry it took so long to get this done just haven't had time. We really need people to submit there own articles on Japan. To add too the About Japan Section. If you have an interest in Japan and a little knowledge to share please email me with you article add attached photos. Anything from Japanese pizza to taiko drumming is needed. Anyway I whiped this up in 30 minutes this morning hehe. So it might be a little choppy.

Here are the Rites & Procedures of Shinto. This includes In-Shrine procedures as well as individual rites.
http://www.japanlinked.com/about_japan/ ... rites.html

Enjoy,
Sparky

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Ok. Here's my quickish guide if you are visiting a shrine (what I have learned from my Japanese friends) but don't take this as Gospel!
......Oh, by the way there are different proceedures when visiting Buddist/Shinto shrines!

1) before we start, what shrine is it? Buddist shrines are usually bright orange with lots of gold plate trim, and frequently have two big statues either side of the main entrance gate. They sometimes have big lanterns outside (Senso-ji at Asakusa in Tokyo.) and sometimes a huge bell (Kiyomizudera in Kyoto, which is amazing when you see it against a bright blue sky.) Also Buddist temples tend to be called blahblah-'JI' ??or blahblah-'DERA'. You'll often find a money (donation) box to chuck some coins in. Shinto shrines on the other hand are usually plain, unpainted (and faded) wooden structures. Look for the white zigzag paper hanging below the roof and often lots of woven straw hanging up to!. Some have money boxes but they more often have a bell and rope.

2) what to do? well, at a Buddist shrine (at Asakusa) you can purify your hands at the water trough and whaft some incense over your head (at the incense drum). Then proceed up the steps, make a small bow and chuck a few coins into the money box. A couple of coins up to 100 yen is what I've been told is good. Then you make a prayer. When you've finished you can bow once more (if you like) and head back down the steps.

3) at a Shinto shrine you also wash your hands, and make your way up the steps. Sometimes you'll find a money box for donations and sometimes a big rope. If there is a rope then bow once, then bow again deeper. Then ring the bell (or clap twice loudly is there is no bell). They make your prayer. When you've finished you can bow again (not so deeply) and return down the steps. Shinto shrines have shrine maidens called "maiko" who are happy to pose for a photo or sell you a good luck charm. You may also see a priest called a "kannonushi" wearing one of those cool black hats with horizontal black ear things! Shinto shrines generally are called blahblah-'JINJA' ?? and are often found on the tops of mountains and in rural areas.

4) to purify your hands: (Right handed version 'cos I'm right handed!). At the water trough take the ladle in your right hand. Scoop some water out of the trough and pour some water on your LEFT hand. (You don't need all of it -- and you can pour the rest into the drain) Now take the ladle in your LEFT hand and scoop out some more water. Now pour this on your right hand. Then pour some water into your right hand rinse out your mouth (and spit it into the drain, NOT the trough!). Then take the ladle back in your RIGHT hand and scoop out some more water and invert the ladle, allowing the water to pour down the handle (cleaning it for the next person) and put it back on top of the trough. Phew!


5) To use the smoke (!) just stand next to the big pot and gently whaft the smoke over your head (you made need to stoop a little if you are as tall as me at 6 foot 4!

6) last but not least o-mikuji ! The best bit.....Take a Japanese friends along to read your fortune mind, as the Kanji is really hard! >_<
Go over to the o-mikuji stand ??sometimes and get out your 100 yen (the going rate in Tokyo last time I was there). Pop it in the slot. Pick up the big tumbler box and give it a shake. (With both hands either end). Then take one of the numbered sticks out of it (usually falls out of one end(!) and read the number. Put the stick back in the box and open the drawer with your number on it. Take out a fortune slip and get your friend to read it.......The last two big kanji are the most important: Luck. I've got one with ???DAIKICHI on it (big luck!) which is still in my wallet! Variations on the stick tumbler is a lucky dip where you pay your money and reach into a clear plastic bin to grab your fortune and even a fortune vending machine! Don't do you omikuji too often as it is apparently unlucky to that!

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PS - I'm still awaiting my MIXI invite