Hatsumōde (First Shrine or Temple Visit of the New Year)初詣

The custom of visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple at the start of the new year. Worship manners differ between shrines and temples, and individual sites may have their own practices, so it is important to follow each shrine's or temple's own guidance.

At the start of the year, people offer thanks and prayers to the kami or the Buddha — and the proper way to do so varies depending on where you go.

This is a religious rite rooted in a shrine or temple. Please follow the guidance of the organizers and clergy, and take care not to disrupt the ceremonies.

One origin cited for hatsumōde is 'toshigomori', in which the head of a household stayed overnight at the shrine of the local tutelary deity from New Year's Eve to the morning of New Year's Day, praying through the night for a good harvest and the family's safety. Another is 'ehō-mairi', visiting a shrine in the direction of the year's deity (toshigami). Hatsumōde is said to have become widespread around the mid-Meiji period.

Source: 地主神社(external site, opens in a new tab)

The Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honchō) describes 'two bows, two claps, one bow' as the basic form of shrine worship, while noting that some shrines use special forms and that visitors should then follow the shrine's own manner. Izumo Taisha, for example, specifies 'two bows, four claps, one bow'. At Buddhist temples, no fixed form like two-bows-two-claps is prescribed; most people simply join their palms (gasshō) before the principal image. However, a Shingon Buddhist association notes that its sect has a hand-clapping practice, so temple customs also vary by sect and temple. Historically, before the Meiji-era separation of Shinto and Buddhism, shrines and temples were not clearly distinguished.

Source: 神社本庁(external site, opens in a new tab) / 出雲大社(external site, opens in a new tab) / nippon.com(external site, opens in a new tab) / 真言宗津軽仏教会（津軽弘法大師霊場）(external site, opens in a new tab)

1. 01

   Temizu (purification at the water basin)

   Purifying the hands and mouth before worship or attending a rite; described as a simplified form of misogi-harae, the purification of immersing oneself in water to remove impurity.

2. 02

   Osaisen (offering money)

   Originally the bounty of sea and mountains — rice above all — was offered before the kami; with the spread of currency, money took its place. It is offered as thanks, and sincerity matters more than the amount or wordplay on numbers.

3. 03

   Ofuda and omamori (talismans and amulets)

   Ofuda are enshrined on the household kamidana; omamori are carried to receive the kami's protection. Ofuda kept for a year are returned to the shrine at year's end to be ritually burned; omamori may be kept until one's wish is fulfilled.

4. 04

   Omikuji (fortune slips)

   Slips that tell one's fortune and offer guidance on many aspects of life. Some people tie them at the shrine's designated spot, but taking them home is also fine; what matters is using the contents as guidance going forward.

5. 05

   Hamaya (demon-breaking arrow)

   A decorative arrow with a zodiac ema plaque or bell attached, displayed for a year as a lucky charm. It was originally paired with a hama-yumi bow and is said to derive from archery performed for New Year divination.

6. 06

   Kumade (lucky rake)

   Known as a charm for business prosperity, carrying the wish to 'rake in' good fortune.

At shrines, 'two bows, two claps, one bow' is the basic form, but some — such as Izumo Taisha — set their own manner. At temples, quietly joining one's palms is common, though practice differs by sect and temple. In every case, follow the guidance of the shrine or temple you visit.

Traffic controls, seating and fees change every year. Always check the official website for the latest information.

• Follow the manners and guidance of each shrine or temple
• At shrines, purify hands and mouth at the water basin before worship
• Basic shrine worship is two bows, two claps, one bow (may differ by shrine)
• At temples, worship is usually done with palms joined (may differ by sect/temple)
• Offer osaisen with gratitude; the amount is not what matters

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