When worshipping at a Shinto shrine, there are no special days for worship.  One can worship at the Shinto shrine at any given time during open hours.  Notable reasons would be for festivals and personal reasons.  Keep in mind that there are several Shinto shrines that pay honor to different kami (gods).  The website called “Japan-Guide.com” gives the groupings of shrines: Imperial Shrines, Inari Shrines, Hachiman Shrines, Tenjin Shrines, Sengen Shrines, Clan Shrines, and Local Shrines.  Also, Shinto families might make a room in their homes reserved as a Shinto shrine.

If worshipping at a home shrine, one would have a kami-dana which is a tiny replica of the shrine’s sanctuary.  Also, there might be good luck amulets and evil fighting amulets.  Plus, there will be a mirror in the center that acts as a link to the kami.  Religious objects bought at shrines will be laid on the kami-dana.  Those objects will link the home to the shrines.

A WikiHow article in regards to Shinto, gives a tutorial in regards to worship.  The first thing you must do is prepare yourself.  If you are leaving your home to worship at the shrine, you need to take a bath or a shower.  If you cannot, you should at least wash your face and hands.  Keeping clean is important in regards to Shinto.

You enter the shrine under the torii.  The torii gates mark the approach and entrance to the shrine.  They are similar to the arches when entering and exiting a Chinatown. 

According to a WordPress blog called “The Diary of Myoe,” there is a process called Temizu which means “Water on the Palms.”  To perform Temizu or Water on the Palms you go to a wooden reservoir, called a “chouzubachi,” at the shrine.  It is an intricate process of purifying and washing your palms and mouth.

Then, you go to the main part of the shrine which is at the top of the stairs.  Depending on the size of the shrine, more than one person may worship at the same time.  If that is not feasible, you wait at the bottom of the stairs until the person before you finishes.

At the shrine, you may do the Two-Two-One Practice.

After climbing the stairs, you throw your “hyakuen” or coin into the “sasenbako” or offering box.  You ring the suzu firmly several times.  Then, you do the Two-Two-One Practice.  Afterward, you go down the stairs.  Afterward, you can buy an amulet, hang a prayer plaque, or participate in any of the shrine’s special events.

If you are part of the Japanese military and are getting deployed to the battlefield, you might pray to Hachiman or go to one of the Hachiman shrines.  If you are praying for to pass exams, you pray to Sugawara Michizane or go to one of the Tenjin shrines.  You have the choice of going to the actual shrine or making your own shrine.