Photographed on January 21, 2014. These are New Year decorations at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.🎍

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is a photo spot at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. Around 6:00 a.m. at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, this is the temizuya (water pavilion). The unusual atmosphere compared with usual is lovely.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Kumano Shrine around 6:00 a.m.

It was around 6:30 a.m. at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

It’s around 6:30 a.m. at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

It is about 6:00 a.m. at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

I woke up early to visit the shrine for my first prayers of the year. This is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Kawagoe sweet potato fortune. 🍠 I received a New Year’s morning ceremony blessing, and fortunately I was also given a matchmaking charm. I hope good things come to you in a chain like sweet potato vines. 😊🍠

New Year shrine-visit guide 🎍 This time we introduce Kikuchi Shrine, Hokumiya Aso Shrine, Hachidai Ryuo Shrine, and Mt. Kuradake. Kikuchi Shrine The shrine approach glows with warm lights at night, making for great photos. The "New Year Fortune Fukumikji" features luck-bringing prizes, including a Kikuchi Shrine award of an ever-growing half-sho of sacred sake and a grand prize of a zodiac ornament. Amazake is also available on the grounds, offering a relaxing warm break. Hokumiya Aso Shrine Hokumiya Aso Shrine sits right beside the gentle flow of the Kikuchi River. "Free Amazake Distribution" ・From New Year’s Eve, amazake will be distributed for free (while supplies last). "New Year Limited Goshuin" ・A limited goshuin stamp will be offered for the New Year. If you plan to watch the first sunrise, consider the views from Mt. Kuradake 🌄 Mt. Kuradake has a route that starts from the ninth station, so why not try a sunrise ascent to greet the first sun of the year? #Kikuchi Shrine #Mt. Kuradake hike #Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/22620... https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/22679...

Hatsumode in Shimoda *The photo shows Shimoda Daruma Daishi. ● Izu Shirahama Shrine Known as the oldest shrine in Izu with a history of 2,400 years. The enshrined deities are Ikonahime no Mikoto, Mishima Daimyojin, Mimena, Wakamiya, and Tsurugi-no-miko—five honored gods. https://ikonahime.jp//　※駐車場あり ● Shimoda Daruma Daishi A Soto Zen temple founded over 400 years ago. Revered as the "Daruma Ambassador of Good Fortune," it is believed to grant wishes for prosperous business, family safety, traffic safety, academic success, warding off bad luck and inviting good fortune, and attracting financial blessings. It enjoys deep devotion from worshippers. Note: parking available. ● Shimoda Hachiman Shrine This shrine serves as the venue for the grand festival of Shimoda Hachiman Shrine. It bustles with worshippers from the festival community and local residents. The kinme omikuji is also recommended. Note: please use nearby coin parking.

In the early morning of January 1, I went to Kyoto Fushimi Inari Shrine Hatsumode. They were orderly and considerate of each other, so they went well without being pushed. It's the first time I've done it. A lot of choboti

I did First Pilgrimage to the Shrine. It is Kawagoe Kumano Shrine at 7 o'clock in the morning.

Chiba Shrine The main shrine of the North Star god "Myomi-sama". The star of man = Evil removal that controls fate, removes bad stars and leads to good stars, and eight directions that avoid disasters related to the azimuth. Prayer is a lot of worship in search of two powers. Although it is located in the city, it is also famous as a Power Spot where you can feel a mysterious atmosphere when you step inside. According to the legend of Chiba Shrine, when Chiba Tsuneshige moved his residence from Oshii Castle to Inohana Castle, he brought the Myomi-son, which had been handed down from his ancestors, to this place and built the Myomi-sha. After that, it was revered as the guardian deity of the Chiba clan until Chiba Shigetsu was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 18th year of Tensho 1590, and the temple was abolished by the Meiji era separation decree and became the Chiba Shrine to enshrine the main life of Tengochu. The annual summer festival "Myōken Taisai" has been held without interruption since the first festival began in the second year of Taiji 1127 and has become a tradition in Chiba. ■ Access: ・ 10 minutes walk from JR Chiba Station Central Ticket Gate East Exit ・10 minutes by car from Anagawa IC in Keiyo Province ■Address: 1-16-1 Hospital, Chuo-ku, Chiba City

Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture [Enuma Shrine] ★First visit in 2024 It ★collapsed in the Noto Peninsula earthquake on 2024/01/01, but ★ I was worried about aftershocks, and ★ I pray that the damage will not spread further. ★

Happy New Year! The year has begun, and today is the first workday of the year. Here are photos from a midnight Hatsumode shrine visit and from a sunny New Year’s Day walk. I look forward to another year together!

[Isehara Pilgrimage] January 4, 2024 The Isehara City Tourism Association officially started today. Once again, we look forward to your support this year. We immediately visited Sannomiya Hibita Shrine and Isehara Daijingu Shrine to pray for further promotion of tourism this year. We also extend our heartfelt sympathies to those affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and pray for a swift recovery. *A packed lineup of events in 2024* ♦ Monday, January 8 (holiday) Hinatayakushi’s First Yakushi of the year. A rice porridge offering is planned. ♦ Saturday, January 6 Kururin Café opens♪ Kururin-yaki makes its debut at the Hinata Marche! ♦ Weekends and holidays from Saturday, January 13 to Sunday, January 28 Enjoy winter night views on the Oyama Cable Car’s evening runs. ♦ Saturday, February 3 Setsubun Festival. Events are planned at Oyama Afuri Shrine, Sannomiya Hibita Shrine, and Isehara Daijingu Shrine. ♦ Sunday, February 4 Isehara will also have a booth at Atsugi’s event as part of the Shimokitazawa Road Footbath Campaign. ♦ Saturday, February 10 to Monday, February 12 (holiday) We will promote and exhibit at the Japan Heritage event in Yurakucho. ♦ Wednesday, February 14 and Thursday, February 15 Local Isehara souvenirs and products will be sold in the Isehara City Hall lobby. ♦ Sunday, March 10 The long-running Oyama Mountain Running Marathon, its 39th edition, is coming up. ♦ From Thursday, March 14 Works by students of the pottery class “Sae Hajime” will be displayed in the station-side Kururin House showcase. Look forward to various events again this year!

[Izu-Hakone Railway Co., Ltd., Izu-Hakone Bus Co., Ltd.] Let's go to Mt. Daxiong's first pilgrimage by train and bus! Izu-Hakone Railway Co., Ltd. and Izu-Hakone Bus Co., Ltd. will operate a "Hatsu-Hakone Temporary Train and Route Bus" from midnight on New Year's Eve to New Year's Day to improve the convenience of those who go to the 2024 Mt. Saijoji Temple for the first time. The temple is known as a sacred place with a history of 600 years since its founding, and many people come to visit for the first time on the third day of the new year. The Daeongsan Line was opened in 1925 for the purpose of transporting people who came to visit the temple, and it serves as a foot for those who come to worship by train and bus. About the operation of "Hatsuyo Temporary Train Odawara Station ~ Taioyama Station"] ●Date and time: December 31, 2023 Sunday 23:35 ~ January 1, 2024 Monday 5:45 ● Hour table: The departure times of each station are as follows 　　　　　　The whitewashed part train number 501~519 down, 500~518 up is the time of the special train ） ●Transportation: Odawara Station ~ Daiosan Station Adults 280 yen Children 140 yen About the operation of the "First Pilgrimage All-Night Route Bus Daxiongsan Station ~ Dōryōson"] ●Date and time: December 31, 2023 Sunday 22:30 ~ January 1, 2024 Monday 16:40 ● Timetable: Anytime - Time required: about 10 minutes ● Boarding and alighting location: Temporary bus stop in front of Daesung Mountain Station 　　　　　 It is different from the usual bus stop for Doryoson. ● Transportation: Bus: Daeongsan Station ~ Doryoson Adults 300 yen Children 150 yen ●Note: For 3 days from January 1st ~ 3rd, additional flights will be operated during daytime hours. 【Inquiry】Izu-Hakone Railway Taiosan Line, Odawara Station 　　　　　　TEL. 0465（22）9173 　　　　　Izu-Hakone Bus ・ Odawara Office 　　　　　　TEL. 0465（34）0333

"New Year's Day to God" First visit to Kasuga Shrine

This year, I visited Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City, Tokyo for the first time. I asked God for the health of my loved ones this year. Let's take a lot of photos this year. In search of moments when the heart moves.

[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!

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

New Year 🎍 of Japan First visit ⛩