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




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