Hatsumode, the first visit of the year to the shrine (or temple) is one of the most important Japanese New Year customs. The tradition originates in the Shinto religion and originally it was about staying awake in front of the deity on the night between the years. The shrine was selected according to the New Year’s auspicious direction, calculated according to the zodiac.
Today, the visit can be performed during the first days of the year, and the shrine is usually one of the large, famous shrines, which are getting very crowded during this period…
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Yesterday’s Japan Photo:Joya no Kane, 108 Bell Chimes |
