Green Shinto friend Paul de Leeuw will again be offering the only open Hatsumode service in Europe this year, which will take place at the Hotel Okura in Amsterdam. Anyone who would like to attend can find the details for application below.  (The Dutch Shinzen Foundation website can be found here.)

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HATSUMODE 2015
Invitation for the New Year Ceremony

Hatsumode as carried out in Amsterdam

You are cordially invited to attend the celebration of Hatsumode (the Seasonal First Visit to the Shrine) on New Year’s Day 2015, January 1st

Venue: Hotel Okura Amsterdam
Otter and Esperance Room
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333
Amsterdam

04:00- 05:00 PM

Free entrance.  Donation appreciated

Program:
15:30 Registration of guests
16:00 Shinto ceremony: Hatsumode
17:00 Naorai (congratulatory toast with sake)
18:00 End

Please apply before December 28th to confirm your attendance.  After December 28th you will receive a confirmation.

Hatsumode is the seasonal first visit to the shrine in order to receive the pure blessings of nature.
During New Year’s Day the guests of Hotel Okura have access to the Holland Shinto Shrine, which is temporarily built in the Otter and Esperance Room.  Every hour shintomaster Paul de Leeuw will perform a purification ceremony exclusively for the families who are staying at the hotel.  For information about staying in Hotel Okura, please check the Okura Oshogatsu Package 2015 or click here.

Due to the gracious courtesy of Hotel Okura we have the pleasure to invite you to attend the Grand New Year Ceremony at 04:00 PM.  We will celebrate the Grand Ceremony for the New Year for the 10th time. The ceremony will be performed by drs Paul de Leeuw, Shintomaster, assisted by Yurie Umamoto, Miko, while Naomi Sato will perform Gagaku music.

Besides attending the ceremony at 04:00 PM, you may also visit the shrine between 11:30 AM and 03:00 PM without attending a purification ceremony. At the reception desk you will find Omamori for personal protection or traffic safety and Omikuji (fortune telling). It will be worthwhile to visit the temporary shrine on New Year’s Day.

It is highly recommended to fill in the application form on our website.  Please, make your reservation before December 28th.  After that date you will receive a confirmation with all details.

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The Hatsumode application form can be found here.

Paul de Leeuw and the Yamakage Shinto Shrine in Amsterdam