初詣 The Japanese New Year

Happy New Year everyone!
How did you spent the very first day of 2015? By partying or perhaps shopping? #girlsbeinggirls
I did a little of the latter, but before that I did my first visit to the shrine this year with yw.

#1

After a brief research, we decided to visit the most famous shrine (and nearest to us) in Kantou region -- Meiji Jingu , which get the average of 3.16 million visitors for the first three days of January every year! I went to this shrine once back in August when my sister came to visit, which made this the second time of me visiting the Meiji Jingu Shrine, but my first time doing 初詣 (read : ha-tsu-moh-deh) here.

Hatsumōde is the first shrine visit of the Japanese new year. Unlike the Chinese, the Japanese do not have another "Japanese calendar" besides the international Gregorian calendar. 

#2

Name of company/people who gave BIG offerings

#3

No more lost child

#4

As expected, the crowds were massive but our turn came quickly because the act of worship is very short and brief (throw coins-2 bows-2 claps-pray-bow). 

#5

Waiting for our turn

#6

Can you see the dust-like brown residues on the huge white sheet? Those are the coins the worshipers offered! I wonder how much they are able to collet at the end of the day.

#7

Traditionally, only 5yen is offered per worship because 五円 (ごえん) is pronounced similarly to ご縁 (ごえん) meaning "fate and bonds" in Japanese, in the hope that they may be connected to many good relationship and ties whole year round.

#8

Booths selling various kind of amulets

#9

#10

#11

Omikuji

#12

That's all for this post :)

Hope you enjoy it and may 2015 bring bundle of joy and happiness to each and everyone of you.

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