At a Jinja
Jinja are the sacred spaces of Shinto, sites at which kami are enshrined and venerated.
They are found all across Japan, and are as diverse as the kami they honour.
People visit them throughout the year to attend matsuri,
make requests, or simply to pay their respects to the kami.
Precinct
Every jinja is in a sacred area, the precinct.
This is different at each location, but there are a number of common structures, which often have a similar layout.
Entering a Jinja
There is a standard way to pay your respects to the kami,
which is acceptable at any jinja in Japan.
Gokito
When people want to make a special request of the kami, they attend a ceremony called “gokito”.
These ceremonies have a consistent form and etiquette.
Taking it Home
Common items such as ofuda and omamori express the power of kami and are kept close for protection. They can be received at jinja with a small offering.