Giant torii gate entrance at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Japan

The first visit to a shrine after the new year is called hatsumode. The shrines are packed for the first few days of a new year. I haven’t done hatsumode in Nikko, but I’m guessing it is pretty crowded. I have done hatsumode at Meiji Jingu twice and both times it was teeming with people.

Posted on January 3rd, 2012 under Japan • Tags: nikko, shinto, shogatsu, torii, toshogu. • RSS 2.0 feed • Both comments and pings are currently closed