Hatsumode

Overview

Hatsumode is the first visit of the New Year to a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple. People offer thanks for the past year, pray for health and good fortune, and take part in customs such as drawing omikuji, receiving new amulets, or writing wishes on ema.

Definition

Hatsumōde (初詣) combines “first” with “visit to worship.” It is one of the most visible customs of the Japanese New Year, but it is not limited to a single denomination: both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples welcome New Year worshippers.

Some people leave home before midnight on December 31 and make the visit as the date changes. Others go on January 1, 2, or 3, or later when crowds are smaller. The meaningful point is the first worship visit of one’s year, not winning a race to arrive at midnight.

Timing

Hatsumode forms part of the wider Shōgatsu season, whose household preparations, greetings, foods, and first activities begin before and continue beyond the shrine or temple visit.

Midnight and New Year’s Day

The hours around midnight and the daytime of January 1 create the strongest festive atmosphere. Major sites can be extraordinarily crowded, with long controlled queues and temporary traffic routes.

The first three days

January 1–3, known as sanganichi, is the classic period. Public transport may run special services, while many ordinary businesses operate on reduced hours.

A quieter later visit

Going after the first three days is still meaningful. Tokyo’s official travel guide describes hatsumode activity continuing into mid-January at some places. A neighborhood shrine can also provide a more locally grounded experience than a famous destination.

Shrine and temple observance

Both are appropriate, and some people visit more than one site. The worship form differs:

• At a Shinto shrine: bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow once, unless the shrine posts a different form.
• At a Buddhist temple: bring the hands together quietly and do not clap. Follow the temple’s own signs.

If you are unsure which kind of site you entered, a torii usually marks a shrine, while temple gates, incense burners, and Buddhist images indicate a temple. Some historic complexes contain both traditions nearby.

Shrine worship procedure

1. Check the official opening hours and transport information before leaving.
2. Join the correct queue and follow temporary barriers or staff directions.
3. Bow at the torii when doing so will not block the crowd.
4. Use the temizuya if it is operating and safely accessible.
5. Make an offering and complete the shrine prayer form.
6. Move away from the worship front before checking your phone or meeting companions.
7. Visit the office for New Year items only after worship.

At peak times, crowd management may simplify the normal route. Follow staff and do not push toward the front to perform every step perfectly. See Japanese Shrine Etiquette for the standard visit.

Associated customs

Draw an omikuji

An omikuji offers written guidance for the coming period. Read the detailed advice, not only the fortune rank.

Receive omamori and ofuda

People often renew omamori for personal protection and ofuda for the home. Old items can be returned at the designated place.

Write an ema

An ema makes a New Year wish visible as a written offering. Avoid including personal information on the public plaque.

Receive a goshuin

Some institutions offer New Year designs, but office hours and queues may differ from normal. A goshuin records worship; it should not replace the visit itself.

Crowds and transport

• Use the shrine or temple’s official website for current gates, hours, and queue rules.
• Expect station exits, roads, and pedestrian routes to change near major sites.
• Keep small cash available; electronic payment is not universal.
• Wear warm layers and shoes suitable for standing on gravel or pavement.
• Choose a meeting point outside the densest area in case mobile service is slow.
• Do not assume trains run all night; special timetables change by operator and year.

Photography and food stalls

Photograph the festive setting without holding up the worship line or focusing on a stranger’s prayer. Selfie sticks and tripods are impractical in dense crowds and may be prohibited. Food stalls are part of many major visits, but eat only in permitted areas and keep cups and skewers out of the sacred center.

Family and accessible visits

A later date or early morning is usually easier than midnight. Research step-free entrances because the formal approach may use stairs or gravel. Staff may direct wheelchairs and strollers to another gate; using that route is respectful and safer.

A low-crowd hatsumode plan

At its core, hatsumode is the first worship visit of the year, not a requirement to arrive at midnight or queue at a famous site. A quieter plan can be equally valid: choose a local shrine or temple, check that institution’s holiday hours and temporary entrances, and visit after the first peak if crowds, cold, or mobility are concerns. GO TOKYO and the Japan National Tourism Organization present New Year worship across multiple sites, while local notices remain the reliable source for current access.

Keep the order simple: identify whether the site is a shrine or temple, follow its worship form, then draw omikuji or receive ema and amulets after paying respects. This separates the central rite from optional activities and places the visit within the wider Shōgatsu season.

Common questions

Is hatsumode only on January 1?

No. January 1–3 is common, but later visits are widely accepted and often more comfortable.

Must hatsumode be at a famous shrine?

No. A local shrine or temple can be especially meaningful and avoids adding to extreme congestion.

Can a visitor participate without being Shinto or Buddhist?

Yes. Participate respectfully, follow the site’s worship form, and remember that it remains an active religious visit.

Sources and further reading

• GO TOKYO: Hatsumode (English).
• Japan National Tourism Organization: New Year and Hatsumode (English).
• Association of Shinto Shrines: Visiting a Jinja (English).