Casual — to friend
Cultural · Religion
こちらは神社ですか、お寺ですか？鳥居があるから神社でしょうか。 — Is this a shrine or a temple? There's a torii gate, so it must be a shrine? (Cultural · Religion, Casual — to friend, JLPT N4)
You
こちらは神社ですか、お寺ですか？鳥居があるから神社でしょうか。
こちらはじんじゃですか、おてらですか？とりいがあるからじんじゃでしょうか。
Is this a shrine or a temple? There's a torii gate, so it must be a shrine?
Romaji: Kochira wa jinja desu ka, otera desu ka? Torii ga aru kara jinja deshou ka. / Reply Romaji: Sou desu yo! Torii ga aru no wa jinja no shirushi desu.
Reply
そうですよ！鳥居があるのは神社の目印です。
そうですよ！とりいがあるのはじんじゃのめじるしです。
That's right! The torii gate is the symbol of a Shinto shrine.
Gesture & etiquette
Ask with genuine curiosity — this is a completely natural question for foreign visitors and even many non-religious Japanese people. Look around for the other signals together: 'Ano mon wa sanmon to iimasu ka?' (Is that gate called a sanmon?) — this kind of curious exploration endears you to Japanese companions. Your interest in understanding Japan's religious architecture will be warmly received.
The torii gate is the clearest distinguishing feature: torii = Shinto shrine (jinja). Buddhist temples (otera) typically have a sanmon (large gate with roof) and a main hall (hondou). Another key difference: shrines are approached with 'nirei nihakushu ichírei' (two bows, two claps, one bow); temples are approached without clapping — simply bow with hands together in prayer.