Morning, afternoon, and night visits! A complete guide to visiting shrines by time of day

Learn the correct etiquette for visiting a shrine

You may have heard that the best time to visit a shrine is in the morning. It is very important to know the correct time to visit a shrine. From here on, we will explain in detail the best time to visit a shrine.

What is the meaning of visiting a shrine?

In addition to having your wishes granted, visiting a shrine also has meaning as a way to purify yourself.

Various gods are enshrined at shrines, and each god has a different meaning, such as bringing good luck, prosperity in business, warding off evil, etc. First, research the god of the shrine you want to visit, and then pray according to that meaning.

Standard times for visiting shrines

Generally, the best time to visit a shrine is between the hours of morning and 2:00 pm. In particular, it is said that there are fewer visitors in the morning, which means fewer wishes, and that prayers are more likely to be answered in the morning.

Of course, there is no rule that says you can't visit a shrine in the evening or at night, but some shrines open earlier or close later, so it's best to check in advance before visiting.

Also, the times when it is crowded are not the best times to visit the shrine at your leisure. If you want to visit in peace and quiet or avoid the crowds, we recommend visiting on weekdays, early mornings, or at night.

How to visit at other times

Nighttime prayers are said to bring you closer to the gods, allowing you to chant your heartfelt wishes. Early morning prayers allow you to calm down and pray while basking in the morning sunshine and pleasant air.

In addition, you can experience the sacred atmosphere unique to the shrine by visiting on the day of an event or festival held at the shrine.

Manners at Shrines

When praying at a shrine, be sure to purify your hands and mouth at the chozuya (purification fountain) before heading to the main hall. The area inside the torii gate is a sacred place where the gods reside, so it is important to purify both your body and mind.

After purifying yourself at the Chozuya (purification fountain), head to the main shrine. Put your offering in, ring the bell if there is one on top of the offering box, and then bow twice, clap twice, and bow once before praying. This is not only a way to make a wish, but also to show gratitude and respect to the gods. Please be sure to do this carefully.

Also, shrines are places where you should pray quietly and make your wishes, so please avoid loud behavior so as not to disturb the prayers and wishes of other worshippers around you.

Major shrines that can be visited along the Nankai Line

Finally, we will introduce the main shrines that you can visit along the Nankai Line.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

This is the head shrine of Sumiyoshi Shrine, which has about 2,300 branches nationwide. It is known as "Sumiyossan" in Osaka, and has been loved for a long time. It is also famous nationwide, with more than 2.3 million visitors at the beginning of the year.

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・Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (amulet gift shop)

・TEL: 06-6672-0753

Address: 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Access: 3 minutes on foot from Sumiyoshi-Taisha Station on the Nankai Main Line

About 5 minutes walk from Sumiyoshi-Higashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line

A short walk from the Sumiyoshi Torii-mae tram stop on the Hankai Tram Line

Imamiya Ebisu Shrine

This shrine enshrines Ebisu, the god of prosperity in business. The Toka Ebisu festival, held for three days from January 9th to 11th every year, is a very lively event, attracting approximately one million worshippers every year.

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・Business hours: 9:00-17:00

・TEL: 06-6643-0150

Address: 1-6-10 Ebisu Nishi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Access: 2 minutes on foot from Imamiya-Ebisu Station on the Nankai Koya Line

Mount Kongo Katsuragi Shrine

This shrine is located near the summit of Mount Kongo, which runs across the border between Osaka and Nara prefectures. Currently, 38 Kuzuki shrines, the guardian deities of Mount Kongo, are enshrined here. Mount Kongo has long been considered a sacred mountain where Shinto and Buddhism have been fused and harmonized.

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・TEL: 0721-74-0005

Address: 1009-2 Chihaya, Chihayaakasaka Village, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture

Access: Take the bus from Kawachinagano Station on the Nankai Koya Line to Kongo Tozanguchi bus stop, then walk for about 70 minutes

Let's visit the shrine to express our gratitude!

This time, we introduced the proper manners and ways to pray at different times of the day. However, if you get too caught up in the formalities, you will tend to put your feelings aside. First of all, you should pray with a humble heart and with gratitude for your daily life.

There are many historic shrines along the Nankai line. If you visit at a different time than usual, you may make a new discovery. Why not try visiting shrines on your next outing?

Original article: https://otent-nankai.jp/category/topic/230324_shrine-visit-time_888