19. Cleansing before entering a Temple or Shrine
It is customary that you was your hands and take a small drink to cleanse your mouth before entering a Shinto Shrine or a Buddhist Temple. Most Shintos will also worship in a Buddhist Temple. We are still in Nara with Yoshiko, our guide. If you go to Nara, book a guide in advance. Yoshiko took us around Nara for nine and a half hours ... just Elle and I and it cost us her lunch. There is no charge and, there is no tipping anywhere in Japan. You will insult waiters, taxi drivers etc. if you try to tip. We correspond with Yoshiko often. Her knowledge of Japan was of great value to our trip.