Japan rings in the New Year without restrictions, shrines buzz with hopeful crowds

Across Japan, the new year began with a joyful roar after three years of pandemic precautions. For the first time since 2019, shrines and temples welcomed throngs of hopeful visitors unburdened by COVID-19 limitations, marking a symbolic return to normalcy.

In Tokyo, renowned shrines like Sensoji and Meiiji were abuzz from the crack of dawn as locals and international travelers participated in the tradition of hatsumode, the first pilgrimage of the year. Open all day since Sunday midnight, these sacred spaces resonated with prayers for good fortune in the year ahead.

Hatsumode isn’t just about the sacred; it’s a vibrant cultural tapestry. Festive stalls lined the shrine grounds, tempting visitors with delectable treats, omikuji (fortune-telling paper strips), and an array of lucky charms promising health, family prosperity, academic success, love, and wealth.

Adding to the joyous atmosphere, Solaseed Air took to the skies with a special New Year’s Day flight, treating passengers to a breathtaking spectacle of the first sunrise over Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

This year’s New Year celebrations in Japan were a testament to the nation’s resilience and its eagerness to embrace a hopeful future. With open doors and open hearts, shrines and temples across the country became beacons of renewal, marking a fresh start with a collective prayer for a brighter year ahead.