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2022.12.21
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Absolutely not! Recommended shrines in Kyoto for New Year's visits

[2023] You can't miss it! 7 Kyoto Shrines Recommended for Hatsumode (New Year's Pilgrimage)

New Year's Day is coming soon. Why don't you make it a wonderful year by visiting Hatsumode? Here are some popular Hatsumode spots in Kyoto, as well as information on New Year's-only festivals and red seals!

1.[Praying for disaster and fire prevention at the Yasaka Shrine / Gion

Yasaka Shrine is the headquarter of the Gion faithful who pray for protection from bad luck.
The main deity "Susanoo-no-Mikoto" has been worshipped as a god to exorcise all kinds of misfortunes. The "Okeramairi," a year-end tradition in Kyoto, is a New Year's festival in which worshippers transfer the sacred fire, which is lit throughout the night from around 7:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve until early morning on New Year's Day, along with "Okeragi" on which people write their wishes, onto a fire rope and take it home with them. It is said that the fire rope, which is extinguished before leaving the shrine, should be displayed in the kitchen as a good luck charm against fire.

Yasaka Shrine
Kerera Pilgrimage to Yasaka Shrine

ritual visit to a temple in which a new servant has his first audience (at a shrine, temple shrine, etc.)

Yasaka Shrine

  • Yasaka Shrine
  • 625 Gion-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from "Gion-Shijo Station" of Keihan
    Approximately 8 minutes walk from Hankyu "Kyoto Kawaramachi Station".
  • Tel. 075-561-6155
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Free in the precincts (Shrine office 9:00-17:00)
    Opening hours of the shrine office during the New Year period areHPcheck
    Year-end and New Year's events
    Dec. 31, around 19:30 - Pilgrimage to Okera
    January 1 Baijiu Festival
    Jan. 3 Hatsumode and Karuta Hajime Ceremony

2.Get a New Year's lucky charm at Heian Jingu Shrine, which tells the history of Kyoto / Okazaki

Heian Jingu Shrine was built to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Heian, in order to pass on to future generations the legacy of the many people who accomplished the restoration of Kyoto.
The shrine pavilion is a five-eighths scale reproduction of Chodoin, the main building of the Heian-kyo Capital at the time when Emperor Kanmu, the deity of the shrine, founded the capital, allowing visitors to experience the scenery of Kyoto 1200 years ago. From New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, the gates are open all night and all the lanterns on the temple grounds are lit, creating a solemn and festive atmosphere. The temple is open all night long on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and all the lanterns are lit, creating a solemn and festive atmosphere.

Heian Shrine

Kamiya (large) 1,800 yen, (small) 1,500 yen / 1 red and white zodiac sign guard 1,500 yen

Heian Shrine

  • Heianjingu
  • 97 Nishitennocho, Okazaki, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop "Okazaki Park Art Museum / Heian Jingumae"
    10 minutes walk from Higashiyama subway station
  • Tel.075-761-0221
  • Prayer time in the precincts
    Visiting hours may change depending on the season. Detail isHPsee
    *December 31st midnight - January 1st 19:00 / January 2nd and 3rd 6:00 - 18:30 / January 4th and 5th 6:00 - 17:30 / January 6th 6:00 - 17:00
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31, 15:00- Purification Ceremony to be followed by a night service
    Year-end and New Year's limited red seal conferment period: January 1 - 15, 2023, first earner's fee 500 yen

3.Pray for happiness in the year ahead at Fushimi Inari Taisha, the main shrine of Inari shrine / Fushimi

[Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the Inari Shrines, which are said to number 30,000 throughout Japan.
As a shrine of common people's faith, people have long prayed for a good harvest. In recent years, it has also been worshipped as a god of business prosperity and family safety. The vermilion color of the main shrine and torii represents the fertility of Inari no Okami, and the white fox, the messenger of the god, is praised as "Byakko-san. Passing through the Senbon-torii gate and climbing Mt. Inari, you can enjoy a panoramic view of southern Kyoto, so make a pilgrimage to the mountain to bring in the year's luck.

Fushimi-Inari Taisha
Fushimi-Inari Taisha

White Fox Ema" 800 yen for the first earning.

Fushimi-Inari Taisha

  • Fushimi Inarisha
  • 68 Yabunouchi-cho, Fukakusa, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • Short walk from JR Inari Station
  • Tel.075-641-7331
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Free worship in the precincts
    (Awarding office 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
    Opening hours of the awarding office during New Year's Day areHPcheck
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31, 15:00- Grand Purification Ceremony
    January 1, 2023 6:00 - New Year's Day Festival

4.Pray to the god of learning for a year of progress [Kitano Tenmangu Shrine]

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is the head shrine of about 12,000 Tenmangu and Tenjinsha shrines throughout Japan dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane (Lord Suga).
The shrine is widely known as the "god of learning" because of the outstanding achievements of Lord Suga as a poet and calligrapher. On January 2 of each year, a "brush-stroke ceremony" is held in memory of the deity and to pray for the improvement of calligraphy skills of those who are familiar with the art of writing. From January 2 to 4, the "Tenmasho" ceremony is held to pray for the improvement of calligraphy by starting the first calligraphy in front of the god. Let's calm our minds in front of the "god of learning" and hold the brush in our hands.

Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine Tower Gate

The tower gate decorated with ema (votive picture tablet) for the year of the rabbit

Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine fortune slip

Fortune ticket 500 yen

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

  • Kita no Tenmangu
  • Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • Short walk from "Kitano Tenmangu-mae" bus stop
  • Tel.075-461-0005
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    6:30-17:00
    *Opening hours during the New Year period areHPcheck
    Year-end and New Year's events
    Dec. 31: Grand Purification Ceremony, Fire Ceremony, Fire Ceremony
    January 1 New Year's Day Festival
    January 2: Writing Start Festival
    January 2-4 Tenmasho

5.Feel the history of Kyoto at the Shimogamo-jinja Shrine's New Year's events that have continued since B.C.

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine is known as "Shimogamo-san" because it is enshrined downstream from the Kamo River.
The shrine has a long history, dating back to 90 B.C., when the shrine's Zuigaki fence was repaired. During the Heian period (794-1185), the shrine was worshipped as a guardian deity of the country and the capital city, Kyoto. Every year on January 4, "kemari," a Japanese game of football, is dedicated to the shrine, allowing visitors to experience Kyoto's history firsthand. Ehime-mamori" made of colorful crape cloth and "Lace-mamori" with a beautiful delicate openwork pattern are among the many wonderful amulets offered.

Shimogamo-jinja Shrine Main Hall

Ehime Mamoru 1000 yen / Race Mamoru 2000 yen

Shimogamo Shrine

  • Shimogamo Shrine
  • 59 Shimogamo Izumigawa-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 6 minutes walk from Keihan "Demachiyanagi Station"
    A short walk from the bus stop "Shimogamo Jinja-mae" and "Tadasunomori-mae"
  • Tel.075-781-0010
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    6:30-17:00
    *December 31 6:30-17:00 / January 1 0:00-18:00 / January 2 and 3 6:30-18:00
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31, 15:00- Grand Purification Ceremony (purification prayer fee 3000 yen / free of charge)
    Dec. 31, 16:00- Night service
    January 1 New Year's Day Festival
    January 4, 13:30 - Kemari Hajime
    New Year's Day limited red seal: 1,000 yen (limited quantity)

6.[The Hato-mikuji (dove fortune) at Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine will tell your fortune for the year ahead/Yawata City

Since 859, Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine has been located in Otokoyama, a strategic location for traffic between Kyoto and Namba, as the guardian deity of the capital.
The 10 main buildings and 3 munefuda were designated as National Treasures in 2016 as highly complete shrine architecture that retains the solemn shrine form and also features modern-style decorations. The dove, an emissary of the Hachiman-daijin, is also used as a omikuji, a written oracle. Try to divine your fortune for the year with the "Hato-mikuji" in the grounds of the shrine, which is steeped in history and splendor.

Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine Main Hall

Dove fortune 500 yen

Ishimizu Hachimangu Shrine

  • Iwashimizu-Hachiman Shrine
  • 30 Yawata Takabo, Yawata City, Kyoto, Japan
  • 5 min. walk from Hachimanguyama-jojo Station on the approach cable
  • Tel. 075-981-3001
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Precincts freedom
    6:00-18:00
    *Opening hours during the New Year period areHPcheck
    Year-end and New Year's events
    December 31, 16:00 New Year's Eve Purification

7. Jonangu Shrine, a 1,200 year-old shrine for the purification of people from evil / Fushimi, Miyagi Prefecture

Seongnamgungu was built on the occasion of the transfer of the capital to Heian (794-1192), and has a 1,200-year history of wishing for the safety of the capital and the protection of the country.
The shrine has long been worshipped as a god of directional protection, and today it is widely believed to be a guardian deity of traffic safety, family happiness, prevention of misfortune, and safety in daily life. Choose from a variety of amulets such as the "Directional Protection Amulet" and the "Suzaku Amulet" to remove misfortune in the direction of your wish.

Jonangu
Jounangu Shrine

White charm (Suzaku) 1,000 yen (left) / Yellow charm (octagonal shape) 1,000 yen (right)

Jonangu

  • Journey
  • Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Fushimi Ward, Nakajima Toba Rikyucho 7
  • 1 min. walk from bus stop "Jonangu-mae" (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays), 3 min. walk from "Abura-no Koji Jonangu" (weekdays)
    15 minute walk from Takeda Station on the Kintetsu line.
  • Tel.075-623-0846
  • Main Shrine / Opening Hours
    Free to visit the precincts
    (Main hall and prayer reception hours: 9:00-16:30)
    *0:00-2:00 and 7:30-18:00 on January 1 / 8:30-18:00 on January 2-5 / 8:30-16:30 on January 6-9
    A fee is required to view the shrine garden.
    Year-end and New Year's events
    January 1-3, 9:00~16:00 Aurigagura
    Shogogokumairi special red seal distribution period: January 1 - January 31 (first earning 300 yen)
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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