Hatsumoude
The literal meaning of HATSUMOUDE is year's first visit
to a shrine or a temple.
During the first three days of the New Year, including New Year's Eve,
many people visit Ujigamisama (a god) in a nearby or
noted Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple
to pray for their family members' well-being, happiness,
good health, prosperous bussiness, etc.
Cleanse your hands and mouth with water in a chozubachi at Temizuya |
A long line of worshipers |
Special purification by a miko or a maiden | Buy good luck charms |
But actually most Japanese are not so religious,
and go there for fun or out of tradition.
In the Nagoya area, Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine) is the most popular shrine
to visit.
The sound when you step on tamajari, gravel,
on the approach to a shrine is nice as well.
Some people wear beautiful traditional kimonos
and buy omikuji (fortunes), omamori (talismans) or
good luck charms
The number of the people who visited shrines or temples (Hataumoude) from Jan. 1 to 3 | ||||||||||||
2007 (Heisei 19) | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2010 (Heisei 22) | |||||||||
1 | Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.11 million |
Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.17 million |
Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.19 million |
- | - | - |
2 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.90 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.98 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.98 | - | - | - |
3 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.87 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.96 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.96 | - | - | - |
4 | Fushimi-Inari | Kyoto | 2.70 | Fushimi-Inari | Kyoto | 2.69 | Fushimi-Inari | Kyoto | 2.27 | - | - | - |
5 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya,Aichi | 2.35 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.47 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.51 | - | - | - |
6 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.34 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya, Aichi | 2.35 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.39 | - | - | - |
7 | Sumiyoshi-taisha | Osaka | 2.31 | Sumiyoshi-taisha | Osaka | 2.34 | Sumiyoshi-taisha | Osaka | 2.35 | - | - | - |
8 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.16 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.21 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya, Aichi | 2.35 | - | - | - |
9 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 2.01 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 2.03 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 2.05 | - | - | - |
10 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 2.00 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 2.02 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 2.04 | - | - | - |
The number of the people who visited shrines or temples (Hataumoude) from Jan. 1 to 3 | ||||||||||||
. | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | ||||||||
1 | Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.26 million |
Meiji jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.90 million |
Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.10 million |
Meiji Jingu (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 3.05 million |
2 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.89 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.60 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.65 | Naritasan Shinsho-ji | Chiba | 2.75 |
3 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.85 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.55 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.62 | Kawasaki-daishi (Ex. link) | Kanagawa | 2.72 |
4 | Fushimi-Inari | Kyoto | 2.55 | Fushimi-Inari | Kyoto | 2.35 | Fushimi Inari | Kyoto | 2.61 | Fushimi Inari | Kyoto | 2.69 |
5 | Sumiyoshi-taisha | Osaka | 2.43 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya,Aichi | 2.34 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya,Aichi | 2.33 | Atsuta Jingu | Nagoya,Aichi | 2.32 |
6 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.17 | Sumiyoshi-taisha | Osaka | 2.25 | Sumiyoshi Taisha | Osaka | 2.13 | Sumiyoshi Taisha | Osaka | 2.26 |
7 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 1.98 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 2.02 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.00 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 2.20 |
8 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 1.96 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 1.87 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 1.98 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.13 |
9 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 1.83 | Tsuruoka hachimangu | Kanagawa | 1.85 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 1.94 | Dazaifu Tenmangu (Ex. link) | Fukuoka | 1.93 |
10 | Atsuta jingu | Nagoya,Aichi | 1.71 | Senso-ji (Ex. link) | Tokyo | 1.83 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 1.86 | Omiya Hikawa Jinja | Saitama | 1.87 |