Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Religion
初詣の参拝は、お賽銭を入れ、鈴を鳴らし、二拝二拍手一拝が基本でございます。 — For the first shrine visit of the year, you offer coins, ring the bell, then bow twice, clap twice, bow once. (Cultural · Religion, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N3)
You
初詣の参拝は、お賽銭を入れ、鈴を鳴らし、二拝二拍手一拝が基本でございます。
はつもうでのさんぱいは、おさいせんをいれ、すずをならし、にはいにはくしゅいっぱいがきほんでございます。
For the first shrine visit of the year, you offer coins, ring the bell, then bow twice, clap twice, bow once.
Romaji: Hatsumoude no sanpai wa, osaisen wo ire, suzu wo narashi, nihai nihakushu ippai ga kihon de gozaimasu. / Reply Romaji: Otera no ojuzu to wa chigau n desu ne.
Reply
お寺のお数珠とは違うんですね。
おてらのおじゅずとはちがうんですね。
It's different from the Buddhist temple prayer beads.
Gesture & etiquette
If demonstrating, mime each step: deposit coin (right hand to slot), ring rope (right hand pulling down), bow twice (waist bend 30 degrees), clap twice (chest height, right hand slightly lower than left for tradition), silent prayer, final bow. Speak with reverent tone.
Shinto shrine prayer sequence at hatsumoude: 1) approach 拝殿 (worship hall), 2) deposit coins in 賽銭箱 (5-yen 'go-en' = 'good fortune' is auspicious, avoid 10-yen 'tooen' = 'distant fate'), 3) ring 鈴 (bell rope) if present, 4) two bows (二拝), 5) two claps (二拍手), 6) hands together, silent prayer, 7) final bow (一拝). At Buddhist temples, no claps—prayer is silent.