A few things before you go.

Shrines belong to Shinto; temples belong to Buddhism. Torii gates often mark shrine entrances, while temples may have roofed gates and Buddhist images. Their worship customs also differ.

Two bows, two claps and one final bow is the common form. Pray quietly between the claps and final bow. Follow local instructions: Izumo Taisha, for example, uses four claps.

Usually, no. Join your palms and pray quietly. Some temples explain a particular prayer or practice; follow that guidance.

Follow the basin's instructions. With a ladle, rinse the left hand, then the right. Pour water into your left palm to rinse your mouth; never put the ladle to your lips. Keep used water out of the basin. If the basin is unavailable or difficult to use, ask staff for guidance.

Check the signs before taking a photo. Rules may differ between grounds, halls and ceremonies. Meiji Jingu prohibits photography at its main sanctuary. Ask before photographing people or arranging a shoot, and keep paths clear.

Some temple buildings require shoes to be removed. Look for signs and the entrance's shoe shelves or supplied bags. Wear socks and follow the instructions for that building.

A goshuin is a sacred record of a visit, often combining red seals and calligraphy. Pay your respects first, then ask at the designated office. Use a dedicated goshuin book; fees, availability and paper formats vary.

Read the advice as well as the fortune. You may often keep the slip or tie it at the designated place. Follow the site's practice: Sensō-ji directs visitors with an unfavorable fortune to its designated tying area.

Check each site's rules. Keep voices low, take rubbish with you and stay out of restricted areas. Food, smoking and drones may be restricted or prohibited; Kiyomizu-dera bans smoking and drones throughout its grounds.

Check official access information before visiting and ask about the route, steps and available facilities. Sensō-ji provides a lift to its main hall; Kiyomizu-dera publishes a wheelchair route. Facilities differ by site and area.

Pray quietly with joined palms, keep paths clear and follow entry signs. Avoid shrine-style clapping, restricted areas and prohibited photography. Rules on food, smoking and equipment differ by temple; check its own guidance.

Pay your respects, follow local prayer customs and give worshippers space. Stay on permitted paths. Avoid entering buildings without permission, crossing ropes, interrupting ceremonies or photographing restricted prayer areas.

An open door does not give permission to enter. Visitors commonly pray outside the worship hall. Enter only when invited or when the shrine clearly permits public access.

Use the designated burner and follow the temple’s instructions. Kiyomizu-dera advises fanning out a lit incense flame instead of blowing on it. Offerings and procedures vary, so ask when unsure.

Temple Quest is coming soon for iPhone and iPad. Explore 500 temples and shrines in the web catalog today.

The app supports a Japan Overview map and site-area downloads for all 47 prefectures. Save maps with a connection before travelling. Live weather and external visitor websites still need internet access.

Visit stamps are illustrated digital collectibles by emonster, planned for a future app release.