Chōzuya

Chōzu-ya or temizu-ya (手水舎) is a Shinto water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite known as temizu or chōzu (手水, lit. 'hand-water').

The pavilion contains a large water-filled basin called a chōzubachi (手水鉢, lit.

At shrines, these chōzubachi are used by a worshipper to wash their left hand, right hand, mouth and finally the handle of the water ladle to purify themselves before approaching the main Shinto shrine or shaden (社殿).

The temizu-ya ("temizu-area"[citation needed]) is usually an open area where clear water fills one or various stone basins.

[1] Originally, this purification was done at a spring, stream or seashore and this is still considered the ideal.