Hatsumode in pics

All dressed up in comely kimono to welcome a new year, that of the Fire Rooster.

Every year Green Shinto likes to visit our local shrine of Shimogamo Jinja, here in Kyoto.  It’s a World Heritage shrine known for its green surrounds featuring streams running through the Tadasu no mori wood.  Every year the shrine seems to market new features designed to add to its attractiveness as a place to visit.  This year the enmusubi subshrine, which promotes love connections, had been adorned with a pair of love statues….

Male and female in a true lover’s knot

The miko were kept busy with sales of good luck charms (above),  and with signing books which act as a record of shrines visited (left).

One of the good things about Shimogamo Shrine is that there are subshrines for the Chinese zodiac, so that you can pray to your guardian animal.  Here I’m at the shrine for the Ox, together with my protective arrow to ward off evil spirits through the coming year.  You could say I feel blessed.

In recent years Shimogamo has opened up areas that were previously kept off-limits. Now you get to see through to the most sacred areas of the shrine, including this charming subshrine in the inner sanctuary.

There are a variety of things on offer for after one’s paid respects. Unfortunately they had run out of my favourite ginger-laced saké so I had to make do with plum and seaweed tea instead.

The beginning of a new year seems like a perfect opportunity to get your fortune told. This couple were engrossed in finding out what is in store with them, and they seemed pretty pleased with the result. Let’s hope they have a great year!

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For last year’s Shimogamo visit, please click here. For the 2015 Hatsumode in the snow, please see here. For Hatsumode at Kamigamo Shrine see here, and for Hatsumode at Ujigami Shrine see here.