Cleansing at a Shrine
When you enter a shrine there will be a water pavilion nearby with ladles situated like the ones in the picture. This is an area where you do a water cleansing ritual called temizuya before you stand in front of the deity. The etiquette is to take the first scoop of water with your right hand and wash the left, but do not use all the water on one hand. Then you switch the ladle to your left to wash the right. You pour the remainder water in your hand and use it to wash your mouth. Please do not spit the water in your mouth into the source, there is a drain area below that you can do that in. You will not find this at a temple, which is another indicator to know if you are at a shrine. Please pay your respects and remember to do this properly.