Ekiben 駅弁

Culture & Sights 観光 · Stop C03

神社とお寺

Visiting shrines and temples in Japanese

Thousands of red torii gates wind up the mountain at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. Get a goshuin, ask about charms and fortunes, and check where you can go.

  • 伏見稲荷大社 · Set in Fushimi Inari Taisha
  • 6-minute lesson
  • With Ekiben Pass

Phrases

ごしゅいんをおねがいします

goshuin o onegaishimasu

A goshuin, please.

Pray first, then hand over your goshuin book open to a blank page. It's a record of your visit, not just a stamp.

御朱印をgoshuin o · shrine stamp (object)お願いしますonegaishimasu · please

おまもりはいくらですか？

omamori wa ikura desu ka?

How much is this charm?

Omamori are charms for luck, safety, study and more. Tradition says not to open the little bag.

Literally: How much is the omamori?

お守りはomamori wa · charm (topic)いくらikura · how muchですかdesu ka · is it?

omikuji wa doko desu ka?

Where can I get a fortune?

Drew a bad fortune (凶)? Tie it to the rack at the shrine and leave the bad luck behind.

Literally: Where is the omikuji?

おみくじはomikuji wa · fortune slip (topic)どこdoko · whereですかdesu ka · is it?

なかにはいってもいいですか？

naka ni haitte mo ii desu ka?

May I go inside?

Temple halls often ask you to take off your shoes. Many shrine halls are closed to visitors.

中にnaka ni · inside入ってもhaitte mo · enteringいいii · OKですかdesu ka · is it?

おまいりのしかたをおしえてください

omairi no shikata o oshiete kudasai

Please show me how to pray here.

Staff and locals are usually happy to show you the steps.

お参りのomairi no · prayer's仕方をshikata o · way (object)教えてoshiete · teach (me)くださいkudasai · please (do)

What you’ll hear

Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.

kochira wa kakioki nomi desu.

We only have pre-written ones here.

Some places hand out goshuin already written on paper instead of writing in your book.

You

hai, sore de onegaishimasu

Okay, that's fine.

bangoufuda o motte omachi kudasai.

Please take this number and wait.

At busy goshuin counters, staff keep your book and give you a number tag.

You

hai

Okay.

sumimasen, naka ni wa hairemasen.

Sorry, you can't go inside.

Shrine main halls are usually closed to visitors. You pray from the front.

You

wakarimashita

I understand.

Culture tip

Shrine or Temple?

If there's a water basin, rinse your hands first. At a Shinto shrine (look for a torii gate), bow twice, clap twice, pray, then bow once. At a Buddhist temple, don't clap: just put your palms together quietly and bow.

“You should clap twice when praying at a Buddhist temple.”

Practice scene

A Stamp from the Shrine

The shrine office at Fushimi Inari Taisha, where charms and goshuin are handed out. You've just prayed at the main hall.

Ms. Fujii · Shrine attendant

  1. Your turn: Hand over your goshuin book and ask for a goshuin.

    goshuin o onegaishimasu

    A goshuin, please.

  2. hai. shoushou omachi kudasai.

    Sure. One moment, please.

  3. Your turn: While you wait, ask where you can draw a fortune.

    omikuji wa doko desu ka?

    Where can I get a fortune?

  4. omikuji wa, achira desu.

    The fortunes are over there.

  5. Your turn: On the way, you pass a hall with its doors open. Ask if you may go in.

    naka ni haitte mo ii desu ka?

    May I go inside?

  6. sumimasen, naka ni wa hairemasen. omairi wa kochira kara douzo.

    Sorry, you can't go inside. Please pray from out here.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3