We at Of Rice and Zen are often asked “just what the heck is Hatsumode?” The phrase hatsumode (初詣) is thrown around a lot on new year’s day and means the first shrine visit of the new year. In a city like Kyoto with hundreds of shrines to choose from the difficulty comes in the form of an embarrassment of riches. Which shrine should one choose? Which shrines will be the busiest? What should I do when I get there? Well fear not, Kyoto dweller, ORAZ is here to give you some tips:
Yasaka Shrine
People go here to pray for protection from evils. This is rather a vague thing to pray for, but we gather it will prevent you from coming into contact with TV shows devoted to the “making” of generic pop stars and prejudice.
Tel : 075-561-6155
Access : City Bus No.206 “Gion”
Jishu Shrine
People go here to pray for a good marriage. If you’re thinking about popping the question to Miss Forever, you might want to innocently stumble upon this shrine at some point on the 1st of January.
Tel : 075-541-2097
Access : City Bus No.206 “Kiyomizu-michi”
Fushimi-Inari Shrine
AKA “the one with all the gates what was in Memoirs of a Geisha”. People go here to pray for success in business. Take a business card with you and schmooze your way up the hill to make your prayers come true preemptively.
Tel : 075-641-7331
Access : JR Nara-line, “Inari Station”
Kitano-tenmangu Shrine
People go here to pray for luck at school or with study. If you’re thinking about switching to the college visa and are wondering if you’ll find the time to pay the rent and get your homework done, this is the shrine for you.
Tel:075-461-0005
Access : City Bus No.50 “Kitano-Tenmangu Mae”
Image by Onihide.
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