Question
I’m traveling in Japan and I’m thinking of visiting a temple. I’ve heard that there are certain things to say or do before entering. How do I ask the staff, “What should I do before entering the temple?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
寺（てら）に入（はい）る前（まえ）に何（なに）をすればいいですか。
Tera ni hairu mae ni nani o sureba iidesuka?
What should I do before entering the temple?
When visiting temples in Japan, there are often specific customs to observe, such as washing your hands and mouth at the temple’s chozuya (purification fountain) or bowing before entering. This question helps you learn about these important practices.
The phrase “Tera ni hairu mae ni” means “before entering the temple”, with “tera” meaning “temple” and “hairu mae ni” indicating the action of doing something before entry. The phrase “nani o sureba iidesuka?” translates to “what should I do?”.
Thus, “Tera ni hairu mae ni nani o sureba iidesuka?” is a respectful way to inquire about temple etiquette. You can replace “tera” with any other location, like “jinja” for “shrine”, to adapt the question for different contexts.
