Kyoto

New Year at Heian Jingu Shrine

Kimonos in the crowd

Cathy Cawood Dec 29, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>Many Kyoto women dress up in kimono at New Year, perhaps because you can ride the subway for free if you wear kimono!</p>

<p>Waiting on the steps of the shrine to pray</p>

<p>Heian Jingu Shrine has very striking architecture</p>

<p>A Japanese orange tree protected by screens</p>

<p>To discover your fortune, turn the container over and shake until a strip of wood comes out  </p>

<p>Take the strip of wood from the container to this booth and exchange it for your fortune paper (omikuji in Japanese)</p>

<p>Barrels of sake donated to the shrine</p>

<p>Women dressed in kimono sharing a snack from one of the food stalls</p>

Heian Jingu shrine is a striking Kyoto landmark with its elegant green-roofed vermilion buildings. Many Kyoto people go there for Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year (and sometimes the only one!) As at other Shinto shrines, you can check your fortune for the coming year by buying omikuji. If you visit at New Year, you are sure to see women wear kimonos. At New Year, kimono wearers can ride the subway for free!

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Find out more about Heian Shrine.

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...