Hatsoumode and Meiji Jingu - Danny Choo

"Hatsumoude" [初詣] is where folks flock to a shrine to wish for good luck and a prosperous new year.


Most Japanese are off work from December 29 until January 3. It is during this time that the house is cleaned, debts are paid, friends and family are visited and gifts are exchanged. It would be customary to spend the early morning of New Year's Day in domestic worship, followed by sake—often containing edible gold flakes—and special celebration food. During the hatsumōde, it is common for men to wear a full kimono—one of the rare chances to see them doing so across a year. The act of worship is generally quite brief and individual and may involve queuing at popular shrines. The o-mamorivary substantially in price.

Famous shrines like Meiji Jingu in Harajuku are jam packed full of folks to make that wish and enjoy the company of others. Meiji Jingu shrine is located in a huge park called Yoyogi. Its been standing since 1920 (Taisho 9) and has been one of the most popular shrines for Hatsumoude. When you first arrive at the entrance you will see a sea of people who are lining up to make their prayers at the main building in the shrine grounds. Be prepared to stand in line for at least 30 mins - 1 hour.

usually this is where they buy those charms and amulet..

If you have a particular wish you would like the heavens to attend to, you can write it on a piece of wood called Ema [絵馬] like this and hang it on one of these fences. You can go ahead and read other peoples placards and will mostly see "........so please help me pass my exams", "my boss is a right........so help me find another job", "I stole a.......so please forgive me."

A wall of Japanese rice wine. I just Love this kind of designs...

On the way out of the shrine is where all the food stalls are...

Nothing like Japanese food.. it is one of the most interesting and delicious kinds of food i've ever tasted even locally in the local Japanese restaurants in Bacolod...

Satsuma potatoes - deep fried and sprinkled in sugar. they look similar to our local kamotecue..

well the japanese are really unqiue in their culture.. you can see more here..