I went to Hirota Shrine for hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the New Year) at around 4 p.m. on January 1!
They’re open today as well, so please use this as a reference.
This is right by the entrance. There’s a parking lot with space for about 80 cars. It was crowded, but with the security guards directing traffic, it looked like you’d probably be able to park.
If you look to the left↓
The bicycle parking area is over here. I think there’s enough space for quite a few bikes.
Just inside the entrance. Food stalls were set up on both sides of the approach.
There was a decent line for candy apples.
The stalls with especially long lines seemed to be mostly baby castella and chocolate-covered bananas.
There were also games like super ball scooping and yo-yo fishing.
I kept walking while thinking, “I haven’t had chestnuts in a while.”
They were also offering sacred sake. At Hirota Shrine, the sake barrels are from the Hanshin Tigers.
At the chozuya purification basin, the water flows out from bamboo.
Finally, on to the main shrine. I thought the line might not be that long, but…
There were still so many people there to pray!!!
It took about 35 minutes to get to the offering box.
To the right of the main shrine, there were ofuda talismans and omamori charms.
If you keep going and head down the stairs, you’ll find the omikuji fortunes.
That wraps up our report on hatsumode at Hirota Shrine. Since it’s the oldest shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, I think plenty of people will be visiting on the 2nd and 3rd as well. Please take care when you go.
