New Year’s visit – Hatsumoude
People visit to a shrine or a temple for New Year’s visit (初詣で) during first 3 days ( Jan 1st – 3rd).
The custom of New Year’s visit was started during the Edo period (1603-1867). Although the syncretization of Shinto with Buddhism was prohibited and then divided each rerigon at the time when the Meiji period (1868 – 1914) started, but this custom has still remained now and going to which a shrine or a temple isn’t big different. Going to ther for praying for health, love, business or family is important.
The below is the ranking of the number of visitors (Jan 1st – 3rd) in 2009.
I’ve added some information such as enshrined deity .
The Number of visitors in 2009
| Ranking | Name | Location | Visitors (Million) | Enshrined deity |
| 1 | Meiji Shrine | Tokyo | 3.19M | Emperor Meiji, Empress Shoken |
| 2 | Shinsho-ji temple (Narita) | Chiba | 2.98M | Cetaka (Fudo) |
| 3 | Kawasaki Daishi | Kanagawa | 2.96M | Kobo Daishi (Kukai) |
| 4 | Fushimi Inari Taisha | Kyoto | 2.77M | Ugano Mitamano Okami (Inari-sama) |
| 5 | Tsuruoka Hachimangu | Kanagawa | 2.51M | Emperor Ojin, Empress Jingu, Himeokami |
| 6 | Senso-ji temple | Tokyo | 2.39M | Bodhisattva Kannon |
| 7 | Atsuta Jingu | Aichi | 2.35M | Atsuta no okami |
| 7 | Sumiyoshi Taisha | Osaka | 2.35M | Sokotsutsunoo no mikoto and 3 other gods |
| 9 | Omiya Hikawa Shrine | Saitama | 2.05M | Ookuninushi, Kushinada hime, Suanoo |
| 10 | Dazaifu Tenmangu | Fukuoka | 2.04M | Michizane Sugawara |
Map / Print
