New Year's visit to a shrine

Many Japanese, especially over 40 years old, go to New Year's visit to a shrine during 1st to 3rd on Jan even if they enjoy the X'mas just only 1 week ago. Many Japanese have a large mind to the religion.


They pray to have a good year with their palms together with making an offering.


If you go to the famous shrine like Meiji Shrine, you need to wait over 3 hours to make an offering at the peak time because around 3M peoples visit Meiji Shrine in 3 days.


Some will consult an oracle, some will but a lucky charm or something. Also there are many food stalls at the shrine so people can enjoy eating a food too.







Okunitama Shrine located near the Fuchu St. in Tokyo is near 1900 years old. Okunitama Shrine is one of the large shrine in Tama area in west of Tokyo, so if you go to Okunitama Shrine on 1st/Jan, you may need to wait over 3 hours to make an offering.