How to Actually Pray at a Japanese Shrine
To say two bows, two claps, one bow (how to pray at a shrine) in Japanese, say 二礼二拍手一礼 (nirei nihakushu ichirei).
Everyone at the shrine is bowing and clapping in a pattern — here's the one to copy.
二礼二拍手一礼
nirei nihakushu ichirei
two bows, two claps, one bow (how to pray at a shrine)
In this video
- 神社で、みんな何してるの？ Jinja de, minna nani shiteru no? At a Japanese shrine — what's everyone actually doing?
- お参りは「二礼二拍手一礼」。 O-mairi wa “nirei nihakushu ichirei.” The prayer is 'nirei nihakushu ichirei'.
- 二回おじぎ、二回手をたたく、もう一回おじぎ。 Nikai ojigi, nikai te o tataku, mō ikkai ojigi. Two bows, two claps, then one final bow.
- 手を合わせて、お願いごとを一つ。 Te o awasete, o-negaigoto o hitotsu. Press your hands together and make one wish.
- これで日本人みたい！やってみてね👇 Kore de nihonjin mitai! Yatte mite ne. Do it right and you'll blend right in. Try it 👇
Why this phrase
Teach a tourist the standard Shinto prayer sequence — two bows, two claps, one bow — so they can join in respectfully instead of guessing. Keep it warm and easy, not religious-heavy.
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