One of the New Year's games is kite flying. There was a kite flying competition at the Haebaru event, so I made an original kite and participated. A kite flying high into the sky, relying on the power of the wind, is very pleasant to watch. I was able to fly it easily even with HAERUN ☆

[English/Japanese] The other day I bought a French pastry called "Galette des Rois" at "Patisserie Tatsuya Sasaki" just a 4 minute walk from Nishi Hachioji! It is famous in France as a cake eaten on January 6. The cake is not only delicious but also enjoyable, as there is a ceramic doll inside the cake and the person who wins it can become a king. What do you do on New Year's in your country? Most of our international students have their New Year's in February or April! They have a very lively time, eating the country's traditional food and having festivals. When a new year starts, you will feel renewed 😊We wish you all a happy new year! The other day, I bought a French confectionery called "Galette des Rois" at "Patisserie Tatsuya Saki", which is a 4-minute walk from Nishi Hachioji! In France, it is famous as a cake eaten on January 6th. There is a ceramic doll in the cake, and the person who hits it can become the king, which is not only delicious, but also enjoyable. What do you do in your country for the New Year? Most of our international students come in February or April! It is said that it is very lively to eat the traditional food of the country and hold festivals. When a new year begins, you will feel new, thank 😊 you all for your support this year.

2023 Happy New Year! What did everyone do on 12/31? Do you eat soba noodles and see red and white? Do you get up early in the morning to visit the shrine on January 1st? Yesterday, I also received New Year's cards from distant friends, and I visited a nearby shrine to pray for a safe and safe year in 2023. During the New Year, everyone is also welcome to stay at Jintangting.

Newlyweds at the son-in-law ink festival at Matsunoyama Onsen, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture After the son-in-law is thrown, a tower called the Sai no kami (Sai no kami) is burned (the so-called sagicho, a kind of tondo-yaki), and the remaining ink is applied to each other's faces while saying "congratulations" to praying for a disease-free life.

Photographed at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and the Great Country Festival Man's prayer rises to flames, to smoke, and to the sky. Aircraft: FUJIX-A3 55mm-230mm XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7

Photographed at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine and the Great Country Festival It is a burning of prayer trees Pray, I hope it arrives.

First visit ⛄ Igusa Hachimangu Shrine in Ogikubo, it was ⛩😊 a large and cozy shrine

[English/Japanese] Happy New Year to you all! I hope to see you again this year. In Japan, the new year begins on January 1st. What do you do at the beginning of a new year in your country? This time, I would like to introduce the Japanese New Year. 1) Nengajo（New Year's card） A letter sent between January 1 and January 7 to wish someone a happy new year is called a nengajo. Recently, many people have been using social networking services instead of letters. Also, New Year's greeting cards cannot be sent to family members or relatives who have passed away in the previous year. Please be careful with this. 2) Hatsuhinode（First sunrise） The sunrise on the first day of the year is called the "first sunrise" and is considered to be a very good omen. Did you see it? 3) Hatsumode（First visit to a shrine） A New Year's visit to a shrine to pray for the safety of the year is called "Hatsumode". At Hatsumode, people draw omikuji (fortunes) to tell their fortune for the year and buy good luck charms. 4) Otoshidama（New Year's gift） Onyedama is money that children can receive on New Year's Day. It is a fun event for children. 5) Osechi cuisine Osechi-ryori is a New Year's feast. Each of these treats has its own meaning. For example, prawns have a meaning of "long life" because of their bent waist. Also, yellow food is believed to bring good luck with money. This is eaten from January 1st to the 3rd, which also means that you don't have to do any housework for the three days of the New Year. 6) Hstuyume（First dream） What kind of dream did you have at the beginning of the year? In Japan, it is said to be good luck to dream of "Mt. May this year be a wonderful one for all of you! Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you again this year. The new year begins on January 1 for Japan. What do you do at the start of a new year in your country? This time, I would like to introduce the New Year of Japan. (1) New Year's card Letters sent between January 1 and January 7 to convey New Year's wishes are called "Nengajo". Recently, more and more people are doing it on SNS instead of letters. In addition, New Year's cards cannot be sent to people who have lost their family or relatives in the previous year. Please be careful. (2) First sunrise The sun that rises on January 1 is called the "first sunrise." This first sunrise is considered very auspicious. Have you seen it? (3) First visit Visiting a shrine to pray for the safety of the year on New Year's Day is called "first visit". At the first visit, you draw fortunes to predict the fortune of the year and buy amulets. (4) New Year's Ball New Year's money is money that children can receive on New Year's Day. It can be said that it is a fun event for children. (5) Osechi cuisine Osechi ryori is a feast eaten on New Year's Day. Each of these treats has its own meaning. For example, shrimp have a bent waist, which means "you can live a long life". In addition, yellow food is said to increase fortune. This is something to eat from January 1 to 3, and there is also the point that you do not have to do housework for three days on New Year's Day. (6) First dream What dreams did you have at the beginning of the year? In Japan, dreaming of "Mt. Fuji", "Falcon" and "Eggplant" is considered auspicious. May this be a wonderful year for all of you!

Wanted to do Hatsumode this year but didn't want to go anywhere crowded, so I decided to go out to Saitama and find a small shrine to visit. Ended up at this tiny shrine in Nishi-Omiya called Fukuda Inari Shrine (福田稲荷神社). It was super small and not a single person was there so it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. There was no real path leading up to the shrine so we had to walk through a plot of land that wasn't being used but it ended up being a really cool place. The approach to the shrine was really mysterious and once you get past the second torii gate you can see a bamboo forest surrounding the whole area. It was really neat as I couldn't see any bamboo from the outside and didn't really know what to expect when I visited. The shrine itself looks almost deserted but somehow still well maintained. I wanted to go inside to look at the pictures better but obviously I can't so I just admired them from afar. The temizuya/chozuya (or at least I think it was that, maybe this would be considered a chozubachi?) didn't have a ladle to wash your hands but maybe it has to do with corona. Anyways, it was a really nice little shrine and is a great place if you're looking for a mini adventure outside of Tokyo. Or if you want to do Hatsumode and avoid the crowds completely lol. Also, happy new year!

New Year's Holidays Our school will be closed from December 29th to January 3rd. Thank you all for your support this year. Have a Happy New Year. Year-end and New Year holidays The school will be closed from December 29th ~ January 3rd. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for your hard work this year. Wish you a happy New Year.

Asakusa Nakamise on New Year's Day. Every year, it is crowded with many first-time visitors.

Just a smaller post today. A photo that I took in Asakusa before the pandemic broke out. I remember eating some delicious ramen in the area as well. Hoping that everything returns back to normal by new years. Would love to visit Sensoji Temple this year if possible. Or at least some other shrine within range for Hatsumode. I still need to climb Mt. Fuji as well, but maybe in a couple more years. As long as I do it before I can't walk anymore lol

Osechi I thought there were many wonderful traditions and cultures in Japan. These are our New Year's dishes. It was such a day that I felt happy about such a tradition that I would make myself someday. I wish you a wonderful year for all Japan.

Osechi I thought there were many wonderful traditions and cultures in Japan. These are our New Year's dishes. It was such a day that I felt happy about such a tradition that I would make myself someday. I wish you a wonderful year for all Japan.

New Year 🎍 of Japan Seven lucky gods

New Year 🎍 of Japan First visit ⛩

Some pictures I took at Meiji Jingu Shrine around New Years