New Year shrine visit
sando
Path To the Shrine
Sando is a path to the shrine.
There are various souvenir shops and restaurants displayed on the Sando.
Torii
Sando continues till the entrance gate of Shrine.
This big gate is called Torii.
Since Sando is a sacred path leading to God's place, so that even Starbucks has to be architected like the way it is!
Gourmet Paradise
On the way to the entrance of shrine, there are many venders displayed. They sell cotton candies, candied apples, Yakitori, and whatever you would like to grab!
keidai: inside the shrine
Once you enter the main entrance, there is a beautiful site to see just in front of you!
There are pretty Japanese gardens, cranes on the pond, many old trees, stone-made lanterns and so forth.
There might be a long queue leading towards the main gate of the main hall as well.
shimenawa
In front of Haiden, the front part of Shrine to worship to God, there is a twisted rope hung from the ceiling.
This is called Shimenawa.
Shimenawa is hung for making the boundary between sacred and real-life space.
charm and
fortune-telling
After you pray to God, you might buy some lucky charms or
a fortune-telling paper.
You could tie the fortune-telling paper onto a tree or a pillar and leave it in the shrine.
This is preferably done in order to let your wish come true.
three-time
shrine visits
In Japan, people believe that if you visit different shrines three times during New Year, that brings you good luck and good health.