People wish for health and happiness for new year.
Miyajima which is the famous shrine of the World Heritage, lots of people go and worship at there for Hatsumode in Hiroshima.
When I was young, I sued to go there for New Year countdown then went to Hatsumode.
but now, I go to the nearby small shrine with my family, that is my happiness!!!
actually, there is a legend with a good visit to a shrine of a nearby(familiar) Shinto shrine for people and the Shinto shrine in the vicinity.
It is called ''Ujigami Sama'' which is a nearby Shrine, an Ujigami Sama is guardian god or spirit of a particular place in your living.
in Japan, lots of people decorate the ''Shimenawa'' on the front door for New Year, it is enclosing rope. and this Shrine also decorated ''Shimenawa'' ↑↑↑
the dried fish, dried cuttlefish, Japanese white radish and orange etc hanging on the Torii with Shimenawa.
Yes, this is Japanese New Year.
The Shinto shrine appears when passing under the torii and going up the stairs of the stone.
I feel some pins and solemn tense air though it is a small Shinto shrine.
There is not in the forest, but you can see trees back of the Shrine on the picture don't you? there is actually residential quarter!!
It is said to the Shinto shrine the grove of a village shrine, and there is a forest where the tree where the spirits of the dead stays shines.
It is valued with the building of the Shinto shrine as a space where the god stays in this forest by people.
Well, there is an offertory box that throws in money when entering the Shrine.
the money offering was put, and the hand was matched then we were purified at the there by two priests that day.
The Japanese paper of shape like Kaminari(thunder) is previously of the stick of the tree attached, and it shakes on the our heads.
it is said that the misfortune that seems to happen to the person will be brushed off.
There is selling good luck-charm and ''Ofuda'' (paper for talisman) next to Shrine.
long long time ago, it was not able to travel easily and freely as today, when people came to Shinto shrine and temple then they bought Ofuda which with spiritual power for their family and neighbors.
I also bought a pink little good luck charm for my daughter,because she begins to go to elementary school first year from April in this year.
some people associate ''Hatsumode'' and ''Omikuji'' which is random fortunes written on trips paper. Love, Health,and study etc written on the white paper.
ohhh, good fresh air and one year can begin to be pleasant, I feel wrapped in big power!!!
