Temizu-sha (Purification Fountain)
Sumiyoshi Taisha was founded on the day, month, and year of the rabbit, and rabbit designs can be found throughout the shrine grounds. One of the most notable is the rabbit carved from stone above the purification basin located directly to the left of the path to the shrine after crossing Sorihashi Bridge. The water that fills the basin streams out of the rabbit’s mouth.
Such fountains stand near the entrance to most Shinto shrines for visitors to purify themselves before entering the sacred precincts and supplicating before the gods. To use the fountain, pick up the ladle with your right hand. Scoop some water from the basin and use some to rinse your left hand. Pass the ladle to your left hand and rinse your right hand. Next, pour a little water from the ladle into your cupped left hand and rinse your mouth. Spit out the water into the overflow area beside the basin. Finally, tilt the ladle to let the remaining water run down the handle into the overflow area.