Hatsumde

Hatsumode (初詣) is the first shrine or temple visit of the Japanese New Year, typically taking place from January 1 to 3, though many people go later in January. Participants pray for health, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year and often purchase charms, write prayers on wooden plaques, or draw fortunes.

The term combines hatsu (first) and mōde (to go/visit). The practice originated in Shinto renewal customs and became widely observed during the Edo period. It is common at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, with regional variations in ceremonies and timing.

Common customs include cleansing at the temizuya (purification fountain), offering a small coin, bow­ing, and clapping twice before a prayer. Some shrines have bells that visitors ring before praying. Visitors may purchase omamori (protective charms), write ema (wooden plaques for wishes), and draw omikuji fortunes; if a fortune is bad, it is often tied to a rack or tree to leave the luck behind.

In modern times hatsumode draws large crowds at major sites such as Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, as well as at thousands of smaller shrines nationwide. It remains a significant cultural event and is also observed by Japanese communities abroad, reflecting the blend of Shinto and Buddhist traditions in contemporary Japan.