Here’s a photo of a chozuya from an inari shrine:
When you go to a shrine, you first go to the shrine to purify yourself.
The correct protocol is as follows:
Take the dipper in your right hand, and purify your left hand.
Take the dipper in your left hand, and purify your right hand.
Take the dipper in your right hand, put some water in left hand and purify your mouth.
Purify your left hand again, then hold the dipper up and purify the dipper by letting the water fall down on the dipper handle.
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