Japan in January: Hatsumode Shrines to Visit for the New Year
Japan in January is a season defined by renewal, tradition, and spiritual reflection. As the country welcomes the New Year, millions of people take part in Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, to pray for good fortune, health, success, and meaningful connections in the months ahead.
From midnight on January 1, shrines and temples across Japan come alive with the sound of bells, the scent of incense, and long lines of worshippers offering their first prayers of the year. Visitors can experience uniquely Japanese New Year customs such as Joya no Kane (bell ringing), omikuji fortune slips, omamori charms, and new year prayers for prosperity, love, and career success.
Whether you are visiting Japan for the first time or returning to deepen your cultural experience, Japan in January offers a rare opportunity to witness living traditions at some of the country’s most iconic spiritual sites. In Tokyo alone, historic shrines associated with victory, wealth, relationships, and protection attract both locals and travelers during the Oshogatsu period.
In this guide, we introduce some of the most popular Hatsumode shrines across Japan, highlighting their unique blessings, historical significance, and what makes them especially meaningful to visit at the start of the year. From famous power spots to quieter neighborhood shrines, these locations offer an unforgettable way to begin the year in Japan.
Zojoji Temple: A Historic Power Spot in Shiba Park, Tokyo
Located in Shiba Park in central Tokyo, Zojoji Temple is the head temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism and one of the city’s most historically important religious sites. Dedicated to Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha) and closely associated with the Tokugawa family of the Edo period, the temple is widely known for its blessings for victory and success.
Set against the iconic backdrop of Tokyo Tower, Zojoji is also regarded as one of Tokyo’s leading power spots, attracting visitors seeking good fortune, renewal, and spiritual energy. During Oshogatsu (the Japanese New Year), the temple becomes especially lively as people visit for Hatsumode, the first prayer of the year, to wish for health, prosperity, and success in the year ahead.
Key Information
Name: Zojoji Temple (増上寺)
Location: Shiba Park, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Stations:
- Onarimon Station (Toei Mita Line)
- Daimon Station (Toei Asakusa & Oedo Lines)
- Hamamatsucho Station (JR Lines)
Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine: A Tokyo Power Spot for Good Fortune and Meaningful Connections
Yoyogi Hachimangu is especially well known for enmusubi, blessings for meaningful relationships. One of the shrine’s most talked-about charms is the magatama-shaped amulet made of red quartz, believed to support romantic connections. Some visitors share stories of finding a partner within a month of receiving this charm, adding to the shrine’s reputation as a love-related power spot.
Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine conducts Hatsumode and New Year prayer services throughout January, making it a meaningful place to mark new beginnings.
Key Information
Name: Yoyogi Hachimangu Shrine (代々木八幡宮)
Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Stations:
- Yoyogi-Hachiman Station (Odakyu Line)
- Yoyogi-Koen Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
Kanda Myojin Shrine: A Shrine for Business Prosperity and Good Fortune
Located near Akihabara and Ochanomizu, Kanda Myojin Shrine is one of Tokyo’s most important shrines for those seeking financial luck, business prosperity, and victory. With a history deeply rooted in Edo-period commerce and warrior culture, the shrine continues to attract business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals praying for success in the modern era.
Kanda Myojin enshrines powerful deities associated with prosperity:
- Daikokuten – the deity of wealth, abundance, and prosperity
- Ebisu – the god who “catches good fortune,” widely worshipped for business success and profit
Together, these deities symbolize financial growth, stable earnings, and thriving businesses, making Kanda Myojin a major spiritual destination for economic blessings.
Key Information
Name: Kanda Myoujin Shrine (神田明神神社)
Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Stations:
- Ochamonizu Station (JR Chūo Line)
- Suehirocho Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
Anahachimangu Shrine: A Powerful New Year Shrine in Japan in January
Located in the Shinjuku–Waseda area, Anahachimangu Shrine is one of Tokyo’s most well-known power spots for good fortune and financial luck, especially during Japan in January. The shrine is best known for its highly sought-after Ichiyo Raifuku Omamori, a New Year talisman believed to reverse bad luck and bring prosperity.
Anahachimangu is said to have been founded in the 11th century by Minamoto no Yoshiie, a prominent samurai commander, in gratitude for victory in battle. For nearly 1,000 years, the shrine has remained a spiritual anchor in the Shinjuku area.
The shrine’s unique name comes from a mysterious discovery in 1641, when a horizontal underground cave (“ana”) was found during construction, revealing a gilded Amida Buddha statue. The shrine was later rebuilt directly above this sacred spot.
During Japan in January, Anahachimangu attracts large crowds for Hatsumode. Many visitors come specifically to receive the Ichiyo Raifuku Omamori, a charm symbolizing the moment when misfortune turns into good luck.
Next to the shrine is Hōshōji Temple, historically connected through Shinto-Buddhist worship. Visiting both is said to bring combined blessings for wealth, health, and protection, making it a meaningful dual stop during a New Year visit.
Key Information
Name: Anahachimangu Shrine (牛込高田鎮座 穴八幡宮)
Location: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Nearest Stations:
- Waseda Station (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)
Ise Grand Shrine: Japan in January’s Spiritual Heart for Hatsumode
Located in Mie Prefecture, Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu) is regarded as the spiritual home of the Japanese people and is one of the most important Hatsumode destinations during Japan in January, consistently ranking among the top shrines to visit for the New Year.
Enshrining Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and ancestral deity of the Imperial family, Ise represents reverence, renewal, and gratitude at the start of the year.
Hatsumode at Ise Grand Shrine is not simply about making wishes; it is about resetting the spirit for the year ahead. Many visitors come to express gratitude, seek purification, and begin the New Year with humility and clarity in a deeply sacred setting. The two deities (Amaterasu Omikaimi and Toyouke Omikami) here offer power blessings for good fortune and prosperity in daily life and work.
Key Information
Name: Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮)
Location: Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Kawasaki Daishi (Heikenji Temple): January’s Iconic Temple for Protection & Safety in Japan
Located in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki Daishi (Heikenji Temple) is one of the most famous Hatsumode destinations during Japan in January, widely known as the “Temple for Protection from Misfortune.” As one of the Kanto Three Great Daishi Temples, it attracts millions of worshippers every New Year.
Kawasaki Daishi has long been revered for its powerful yakuyoke (misfortune-removal) blessings. Every January, visitors from across Japan come to pray for protection, peace of mind, and a smooth year ahead. Its reputation for effective spiritual protection makes it especially popular among families and first-time visitors.
Kawasaki Daishi is known for a wide range of benefits, including:
- Protection from misfortune
- Family safety
- Business success
- Health and longevity
- Traffic safety, including special prayers for drivers
One unique highlight is its automobile traffic safety prayers, making it a meaningful Hatsumode stop for those wishing to begin the year with safe travels and accident-free driving.
Key Information
- Location: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Access:
- Keikyu Daishi Line, Kawasaki-Daishi Station (8-minute walk)
There are many activities to enjoy during January in Japan, but visiting a shrine for the first time in the New Year is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences of any journey.
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