Question
I’m planning to visit a Japanese shrine during my trip and I want to be respectful. How do I ask “What is the proper way to pray at this shrine?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
この神社（じんじゃ）での正（ただ）しいお参（まい）りの仕方（しかた）は何（なん）ですか。
Kono jinja de no tadashii omairi no shikata wa nan desu ka?
What is the proper way to pray at this shrine?
When visiting a shrine in Japan, it’s important to follow proper etiquette during prayers, also known as “omairi.” Here, “kono jinja” means “at this shrine”; “tadashii” implies “proper” or “correct”; and “o-mairi no shikata” translates to “the way to pray.”
You can use this expression to seek guidance on etiquette in various cultural contexts. Simply replace “omairi no shikata” with another phrase if looking for different instructions.
