Hatsumode: Embracing the Energy of Japan’s New Year
If you find yourself in Tokyo on January 1st, the silence of the usually bustling metropolis is deceptive. While the business districts sleep, millions of people are gathering in specific pockets of the city, moving like a slow, rhythmic tide. This is Hatsumode (初詣), the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year. Far from being a solemn, solitary prayer, the Nigiwai (bustle and excitement) of the crowds is an essential part of the experience, symbolizing the vibrancy of life returning with the new spring.
The Atmosphere of Arrival
Hatsumode is the most significant traditional event in the Japanese calendar. From the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve until January 3rd, major shrines like Meiji Jingu in Tokyo or Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto receive millions of visitors. The air is crisp and cold, often filled with the scent of incense and grilled street food.
For the uninitiated, the crowds can seem daunting. Police officers with