[Video]5 Points to Remember When Visiting Shrine

Worshipping at a shrine starts as soon as you enter the grounds of the shrine. After arriving in front of the gates at the entrance to the shrine, known as torii, you should lightly bow in the direction of the torii, before passing underneath them and entering the shrine.

Next is a ritual for cleansing the body carried out before worshipping in order to avoid any disrespect to the gods. In the shrine, there will be something that looks like a drinking fountain known as a chozuya. This is not actually a drinking fountain, but a place to cleanse both your mouth and hands, known as chozu in Japanese.
First, take the ladle, known as a hishaku in Japanese, in your right hand and pour water over your left hand. Then switch the ladle to your left hand and wash your right hand. Take the ladle once again in your right hand, and pour some water into the palm of your lightly cupped left hand, which you should then bring to your mouth and lightly wash your mouth. You should then dispose of the water in a drain or somewhere nearby while covering your mouth.
The water used to wash your mouth and hands is not clean, so be sure to dispose of outside the chozuya. Touching the ladle directly on your lips is also bad manners. It is ok to wipe up any remaining water on your hands or around your mouth with a handkerchief.

Further into the shrine, you will come across the Haiden, or place of worship, so please prepare a saisen, or money offering. While it is a money offering, it does not need to be much. For example, the giving of a saisen of 5 yen, or go-en in Japanese, is popular, as the word goen could also refer to the connection between people which is an important part of Japanese culture and is seen as a lucky.
Once your turn has come and your are now in from of the Haiden, first of all put your money offering into the offertory box, known as the saisenbako. It is best to put it in as closely and as quietly as you can - throwing it in from as distance should only be done when there are a lot of people around.

Next, if the Haiden has a large bell hanging from it, shake the rope attached to it and ring the bell. It is said that doing so calls the gods before your begin to pray.

After the bell has rung, bring your hands together to pray. Without saying anything, bow slowly twice, then clap your hands together twice, and bow once more. Generally, this “two bows, two claps and one bow” is a set.

There are some shrines that do not have a bell, so in these cases it is ok to start the “two bows, two claps, and one bow” straight away. Incidentally, after the second clap, your should leave your hands together, close your eyes, show your respect to the gods in your heart and make your promise or wish. After your final bow has finished, you should move away from the Haiden to make room for other worshippers.