HATSUMOUDE - New Year's visit to a shrine in Japan

Hi! How are you doing??
I went to "HATSUMOUDE" yesterday.
It was very very crowded with lots people but this is one of new year event for us!!
at Kanda Myojin (Ochanomizu, TOKYO)

  Can you see lots people on a line to the under hill?

I will introduce you about HATSUMOUDE today!

HARSUMOUDE is the first time visiting to temple or shrine into next year.

It's pray for appliciation for last year or safe and peace for new year.

The way of HATSUMOUDE.

Go and pray at temples or shrine, getting a charm, an amulet, windmill at shrine office, writing hopes or goal of year on wooden plaque.

 Wooden plaque

The last year's charm, amulet brings with you and enshrine to temples or shrine.

Depends places, privide sweet fermented rice drink (AMAZAKE) or sacred sake.

HATSUMODE is whichever fine, temples or shrine.

Generally we say "HATSUMOUDE" for visiting there between 1st day to 3rd of Jan., but at same time some people think whenever during Jan. is fine or the first time of year is "HATSUMODE".

Some temples or shrines set temporary shops like summer festival, so these days "HATSUMODE" seems new year event for young people.

The Best 10 of Popular "HATSUMOUDE" temple or shrine in Japan.
(the data of 2006, because stopped counting data)

MEIJI JINGU (Shibuya-ku, TOKYO) 3.05 million people http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/index.html

NARITA SAN (Narita-city, CHIBA) 2.72 million people
http://www.naritasan.or.jp/english/index.html

KAWASAKI DAISHI (Kawasaki-city, KANAGAWA) 2.72 million people http://www.kawasakidaishi.com/english/index.html

FUSHIMI INARI TAISHA (Kyoto-city, KYOTO) 2.69 million people
http://inari.jp/

ATSUTA JINGU (Nagoya-shi, AICHI) 2.32 million people
https://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/en/intro/

SUMIYOSHI TAISHA (Osaka-city, OSAKA) 2.26 million people http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/index.html

SENSO JI (Taito-ku, TOKYO) 2.2 million people
http://www.senso-ji.jp/

TSURUGAOKA HACHIMANGU (Kamakura-city, KANAGAWA) 2.13 million people http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp/

DAZAIFU TENMANGU (Dazaifu-city, FUKUOKA) 1.93 million people http://www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp/en

HIKAWA JINJA (Saitama-city, SAITAMA) 1.87 million people
http://musashiichinomiya-hikawa.or.jp/index.html

Still HATSUMOUDE time in Japan, or when you come to Japan around new year time why don't you HATSUMOUDE!?