Culture & etiquetteBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Japan has no national dress code for temples and shrines, so shorts, T-shirts and sneakers are fine at most of them. Dress neatly, take your hat off, and carry clean socks, because shoes come off in many temple buildings. A few temples do set rules: Nanzoin in Fukuoka can refuse entry for bare shoulders, shorts above the knee or visible tattoos. Japan's tourism organisation asks visitors to avoid overly revealing clothing and follow posted signs, so a sign at the gate beats any general advice, including ours. South Korea works in much the same way; its rules are further down.
• Shorts and skirts: allowed at most temples and shrines, though knee-length or longer is the safe choice. Some guides call shorts disrespectful, while travellers report them being common at busy sites such as Kiyomizu-dera.
• Tops: T-shirts are fine. Skip tank tops and anything very revealing, which is the one thing Japan's tourism organisation asks of visitors.
• Shoes: slip-ons save time, because you may take them off several times a day.
• Socks: carry a clean pair if you're in sandals.
• Hats: take them off at temples and shrines.
• Beyond temples: see What to Wear in Japan for the rest of your trip, and What to Wear in South Korea for Korea.
Most famous sites set no rule, but it isn't true that nobody is ever turned away. Each temple decides for itself.
Nanzoin in Fukuoka, home of the giant reclining Buddha, publishes the strictest rules we found: no bare shoulders, no bare midriffs, nothing that shows the thighs above the knee, including ripped or cut denim, and no showing tattoos. Skin-toned tights count as bare skin. The rules apply to all genders, children 12 and under are exempt, and the temple can refuse any outfit it considers unsuitable.
Working monasteries and religious services can also ask for more, and travel guides report that Eihei-ji in Fukui asks visitors to dress modestly. If you're booked for meditation, a temple stay or a ceremony, check that temple's own instructions.
We found no enforced dress code at Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Sensō-ji, Tōdai-ji or Itsukushima Shrine, and japan-guide says only to dress neatly. The advice to cover shoulders and knees is a courtesy at these sites, not a rule. Check for signs, as rules can change.
Outdoors and indoors: torii paths, courtyards and gardens are the most relaxed. Be more careful inside halls where people pray.
The water basin: at a shrine, fill the ladle and rinse both hands, then pour water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit beside the basin. Don't drink from the ladle or pour water back into the basin. Many visitors skip this, and it has nothing to do with what you're wearing.
Photos are usually allowed on the grounds but often forbidden inside buildings, so look for signs. See our guide to Can You Take Photos at Temples and Shrines in Kyoto? (Photography Rules & Gion Fines).
Socks matter more than shorts, because many temple buildings are shoes-off. Leave your shoes on the shelves at the entrance, or carry them in the plastic bag if the temple provides one.
Bring a pair of clean socks if you're in sandals. Walking barefoot on wooden floors or tatami is widely seen as poor manners, even where no one will stop you.
The Miyajima exception: at Itsukushima Shrine you keep your shoes on along the corridors. The shrine warns that heels can catch in the gaps between floorboards, so wear flat shoes.
Tattoos are rarely a problem at temples and shrines. Japan's tourism organisation says they generally don't cause trouble in everyday life, and points to onsen, public baths and pools as the places that may restrict them. See our Japanese Onsen Etiquette Guide.
There are exceptions. Nanzoin's rules prohibit showing tattoos, and tattoos still carry some stigma in Japan. Covering large ones with a light layer is a sensible courtesy at quiet temples and during meditation sessions.
In Japan: kimono and yukata rental shops cluster around Gion and Kiyomizu-zaka in Kyoto and Asakusa in Tokyo, and many visitors wear them to nearby temples. We found no rule against it.
In South Korea: a hanbok gets you free entry to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine under Korea Heritage Service guidelines. You need both a top and a bottom piece, and costume-style outfits may be judged case by case.
Day visits to South Korean Buddhist temples such as Bulguksa, Jogyesa or Bongeunsa work much like Japan: modest dress is appreciated, and day visitors in shorts and short sleeves can generally walk the grounds.
Overnight Templestays are different. Temples provide a plain vest and trousers, and you bring a T-shirt and socks to wear with them. Guides say to avoid sleeveless tops, miniskirts and flashy clothes, and to wear socks in the prayer halls. Each temple sets its own rules, so check before booking.
Most of the temples and shrines in this guide cluster in a few neighbourhoods, so where you sleep decides how early you can reach them. In Kyoto, Gion and southern Higashiyama put Kiyomizu-dera and Yasaka Shrine within walking distance before the tour groups arrive: compare the areas in where to stay in Kyoto, and see how many days in Kyoto for how many temple days to plan.
In Tokyo, Asakusa is the base for Senso-ji (where to stay in Tokyo). In Seoul, Jongno and Insadong sit between Jogyesa and the palaces (where to stay in Seoul).
There is no national dress code, and most temples and shrines don't enforce one. Dress neatly, avoid very revealing clothes and follow posted signs. A few temples, such as Nanzoin in Fukuoka, do set rules.
Usually yes, though knee-length or longer is safest. Nanzoin in Fukuoka does not allow clothing that shows the thighs above the knee.
Yes. Nanzoin in Fukuoka says it may refuse visitors in attire it considers unsuitable, including bare shoulders or midriffs.
We found no enforced dress code. Wear comfortable shoes, as the walk up Mount Inari has many stone steps.
We found no enforced dress code. Normal casual clothes are fine on the grounds, and hats should come off at the main hall.
Carry a clean pair if you're in sandals. Walking barefoot where shoes come off is widely seen as poor manners.
Only at some buildings. Outdoor paths never need it. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima keeps shoes on along its corridors.
Generally yes. Onsen and pools are the usual problem, but Nanzoin in Fukuoka prohibits showing tattoos.
Light summer clothes are fine at most sites. Carry socks if you're in sandals, and pack a layer for temples with stricter rules.
Yes. Temples provide a vest and trousers, and guides say to avoid revealing or flashy clothes and to wear socks in the prayer halls.
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