Animated Pictograms

Fun and easy-to-understand presentation of historical culture and traditional customs that are uniquely Japanese.

  • VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE
  • BOWING
  • POUNDING RICE CAKE
  • HAILING A CAB / TAXI
  • TAKING A BATH
  • WATER ABLUTION
  • TEA CEREMONY
  • RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AT CELEBRATIONS
  • RIDING THE TRAIN
  • WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ
  • AWA DANCE FESTIVAL
  • Coming Soon

About The Project

EXPERIENCE JAPAN PICTOGRAMS were developed to provide visual support for tourists in Japan.
For more information about the objectives and design concept of the project, please click here.

Request

If you would like us to create new PICTOGRAMS for you or have other requests, please contact us here.

VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE

参拝[SAMPAI]

For many Japanese, it is customary to visit a shrine or temple especially at the beginning of a new year to express their gratitude and offer prayers. There are certain rules and manners to observe in order to be allowed into the sacred space of the deities. You do not have to worry too much though, as there will be no punishment even if you break the rules. Just make sure that, when you offer money, you put it quietly into the offertory box instead of throwing it in. The amount of money can be as small as one yen, and foreign currencies are also welcome. Ritsu put a 100-yen coin out of her modest savings in a prayer for the quick recovery of his ill grandpa.