初詣
はつもうで
hatsumoude
= first shrine or temple visit of the New Year
初詣 (hatsumoude) is the Japanese tradition of visiting a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple during the first days of the New Year — one of the most widely practiced cultural traditions in Japan, with over 80 million people participating each year, making it one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world.
Hatsumoude (初 hatsu — first; 詣 moude — visit/pilgrimage to a shrine or temple) is the first visit to a shrine or temple after the New Year begins, typically between January 1 and January 3. Visitors pray for good fortune in the coming year, draw 御神籤 (omikuji — fortune slips), purchase 守り (omamori — amulets/charms), and write wishes on 絵馬 (ema — wooden votive plaques). The most popular hatsumoude sites see millions of visitors in the first three days of January.
Hatsumoude can be done at either a 神社 (jinja — Shinto shrine) or お寺 (otera — Buddhist temple) — the tradition does not strictly belong to either religion, reflecting Japan’s syncretic religious practice (神仏習合, shinbutsu shuugou — mixing of Shinto and Buddhism). The most popular sites for hatsumoude in Japan include 明治神宮 (Meiji Jingu, Tokyo — over 3 million visitors in the first 3 days), 成田山新勝寺 (Narita-san Shinshoji, Chiba — over 3 million), and 川崎大師 (Kawasaki Daishi — over 3 million).
初 (hatsu) means ‘first’ or ‘beginning.’ 詣 (moude/kei) means to make a pilgrimage or respectful visit to a sacred place. Together: the first sacred visit — the inaugural approach to the divine in the new year.
Everyday use
毎年元日に家族で近所の神社に初詣に行く。
Maitoshi ganjitsu ni kazoku de kinjo no jinja ni hatsumoude ni iku.
Every year on New Year’s Day my family goes to the local shrine for the first visit.
Casual / Social Media
初詣でおみくじ引いたら大吉だった！今年いい年になりそう
Hatsumoude de omikuji hiitara daikichi datta! Kotoshi ii toshi ni narisou
I drew my fortune slip at the New Year’s shrine visit and got the best luck! This year seems like it’ll be good
Formal / Cultural context
初詣における参拝者の混雑緩和を目的として、大規模な神社仏閣では警備員の配置や参道の一方通行化、ICTを活用した混雑状況のリアルタイム公開等の措置が講じられている。
Hatsumoude ni okeru sanpai-sha no konzatsu kanwa wo mokuteki toshite, daiki-bo na jinja jikaku de wa keibiin no haichi ya sandou no ippou tsukourou-ka, ICT wo katsuyo shita konzatsu joukyou no riaru taimu koukai nado no sochi ga kouji rarete iru.
To ease crowding among New Year’s worshippers, large shrines and temples are implementing measures including deploying security personnel, making approach paths one-way, and real-time ICT-based crowd monitoring.
初詣 is Japan’s most universally practiced cultural tradition: surveys consistently show over 80% of Japanese people visit a shrine or temple in the first three days of January, including many who would not describe themselves as religious. This reflects the Japanese approach to religion as cultural practice rather than doctrinal commitment — hatsumoude is a New Year’s ritual, a family outing, and a moment of reflection on the year ahead, rather than necessarily an expression of religious faith.
The rituals of hatsumoude have their own vocabulary and sequence. Visitors purify their hands at the 手水舎 (chouzuya — purification fountain), approach the main hall, toss a coin into the offertory box (賽銭箱, saisen-bako), ring the bell (if present), bow twice, clap twice, bow once more, and pray. After praying, many draw おみくじ (omikuji — fortune slip) — the results range from 大吉 (daikichi — great fortune) to 大凶 (daikyou — great misfortune). Bad fortune slips are traditionally tied to a tree or rack at the shrine to leave the misfortune behind. 絵馬 (ema — wooden wish plaques) are also written with New Year’s wishes and hung at the shrine.
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