Hatsumode

Hatsumode

Hatsumode(初詣) is the first Shinto shrine visit of the new year and almost Japanese people go to the Hatsumode (初詣）within the first three days of a new year (January). When I lived in Japan, I used to go almost every year. Hatsumode means the first Shinto shrine visit in the New Year. Japanese people wish and pray for a prosperous new year. Many local shrines and temples have their unique ways of celebrating the new year and Japanese people buy lucky charms at the shrine or the temple and a written oracle called omikuji. Omikuji says what your year is going to be like, and I remember feeling a little anxious before opening the omikuji. If your omikuji predicts that your new year will not be so good, you can tie the paper on the shrine grounds.

Omiku

New Year is the most festive holiday of the year in Japan. If you want to experience Japanese tradition and culture, it would be good to visit Japan to experience that yourself.