Let's go Hatsumode
Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu !(Happy new year)
Now we have happy 2008.
As the first outing of the year, many Japanese visit shrines or temples on one of new year days and pray for our health and good luck.
Some of the famous and popular places have full of visitors and sometimes we have difficulty going forward. No problem, there are a lot of gods in
This morning I went to one of the nearest shrines from the hostel with my family.
There is a washplace after the entrance. We wash hands and rinse mouth there before prayer.
Then going to the main shrine.
Shake a bell.
Throw some money for contribution (saisen) into a wooden box (saisen-bako)
Then we pray at the shrine.
There is a formal manner for a prayer:
Bow twice à Clap twice à bow once
After the prayer, some draw paper oracle (omikuji).
If you like, you can also buy a charm (omamori) or write your wish on a wooden plaque.
Some shrine may serve free sake.
This is the way of Hatsu-mode.
Don’t worry, Let’s go to Hatsu-mode
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