The familiar top-ranking spots from the Nishi2 survey question, “Where would you go for hatsumode in Nishinomiya?” were:
| Shrine/Temple | Responses |
|---|---|
| Nishinomiya Shrine | 34 |
| Hirota Shrine | 22 |
| Mondo Yakujin | 21 |
I visited all three spots(^^)v
目次
Ebessan (Nishinomiya Shrine)
I arrived at Hanshin Nishinomiya Station at around 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
What on earth?! That line was for baby castella!
It had been a while since I’d seen a line like thatBy the way, this wasn’t the only line today
Just like last year, there were no street stalls along the sidewalk, but it felt more crowded than last year↓
There were quite a lot of people going through the Akamon gate too.
There weren’t any food stalls inside the grounds, but there were shops that looked fun for kids(*^◯^*)
There were no shops along the approach, but it really felt like a crowd for the first time in a while.
The purification basin was closed again this year.
There were a lot of people in front of the main hall, so it took quite a while waiting in line to pray^^;
Once we got to the area with talismans, charms, and omikuji fortunes, the crowd eased up a bit.
For omikuji, you can choose either the tai fish fortune for ¥300 or the folded paper fortune for ¥100(^O^)／
I drew an omikuji!
And amazingly, it was Daifuku! Let’s laugh a lot again this year☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
By the time I was heading home, the crowds had grown even more,
so if you want a more relaxed visit, the morning might be better^^;
The Nishinomiya Shrine website is here
Hirota Shrine
I visited at around 3:30 p.m.
Hirota Shrine has free parking. There was already a line of cars waiting for the parking lot(^ ^)
There were stalls along the approach(^O^)／ And here too, there was a line for baby castella!
The purification basin had no ladles; the water came out directly.
There were way more people in front of the main hall than last year! We had to line up for ages before praying!
Here too, if you want a relaxed visit, early in the morning might be best.
The Hirota Shrine website is here
Yakujin-san (Mondo Yakujin Tokoji Temple)
I arrived at Yakujin-san at around 4:30 p.m.
The stairs and temple grounds were one-way, but since it was nearly evening, there weren’t too many people.
The purification basin was available for use this year.
This is what it looked like in front of the main hall.
There was a pretty long line for omikuji!
Even at Yakujin-san, the biggest line was for baby castella^^;
The Mondo Yakujin Tokoji Temple website is here
Final Thoughts
Unlike last year, there were more stalls, including food vendors, creating a lively atmosphere.
Everyone was wearing masks, but if crowds bother you, it may be best to time your visit carefully(*^◯^*)
May lots and lots of happiness come your way this year too(^^)v
