Peaceful New Year's night at Honno-ji, Kyoto

The bustling crowd that surrounds the Japanese shrines and temples on the New Year's night (because of Hatsumode) is both fascinating and charming. I always admired the calm and cheerful patience with which people of all ages queue up for hours in the freezing night, regardless of the snow or rain...

However, not all the temples are crowded on this night... And you can find a peaceful but charming New Year's atmosphere at some of the smaller temple or shrine. One year ago, I found the Honno-ji Temple in Teramachi, Kyoto, magically lit by real torches. There were incantations coming from inside and just from time to time a passerby was stopping to pray... It felt like a trip back in time...