88 Temple Pilgrimage Travel

Etiquette for visiting temples

Upon arrival at each temple pilgrims put their hands together in prayer and bow before entering a
sanmon (temple gate). After walking through the gate they wash their hands and mouths for purification.
They then proceed to the hondo (main hall) and offer incense, a candle and an osame-fuda, which is a card
with a religious inscription, and a copied heart sutra (Hannya Shingyō). They chant the heart sutra and,
after that, proceed to the Daishido hall. Incense and a fuda are similarly offered there, and again the heart
sutra is chanted. At last they put their hands together and bow again when leaving the sanmon.