Near Daitokuji is Imamiyajinja, a large-ish Shinto shrine. The rope is attached to a sort of bell. You go yank the rope to make the bell jingle (to alert the kami that you are doing something, I assume), toss in some money into the box right behind the rope, clap twice quickly, and say your prayer. The shrine is also where you go to get married; in fact, there was a couple dressed in suit and kimono getting their picture taken in front of the red-orange gate as I entered.