Hatsumode at Nishinomiya Shrine Around 3 p.m. on January 3 2025 [Nishitsu Report]

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しゃちょ美@にしつー
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We posted a report on the New Year’s food stalls at Nishinomiya Shrine, but we’d also like to share what the first shrine visit looked like on January 3〜

Around 3:30 p.m. The intersection on Route 43. It was crowded around the area in front of Hirune.

From here, it looks like it might not be that crowded〜

But sure enough, people seem to be coming from the station side.

After entering through the Red Gate, on the right-hand side. The monkey performance area seemed crowded.

The announcements heard inside the shrine grounds are apparently handled by Noriko Higuchi of Sakura FM〜 She’ll also be doing Toka Ebisu, apparently

Happy New Year. Thank you for visiting Nishinomiya Shrine. We will guide you through the shrine grounds along the worship route. This is the main gate of Nishinomiya Shrine. Once you pass through the Omote Daimon “Red Gate,” you enter the sacred grounds of Nishinomiya Shrine. At 6:00 a.m. on January 10, the “Opening of the Gate Ritual” will be held, in which participants run the approximately 230-meter approach from this Red Gate to the main shrine all at once, and the year’s Fukuotoko, or “Lucky Men,” are chosen. The first through third worshippers are selected as Fukuotoko, and the first 5,000 worshippers will also receive a certificate of worship. To ensure the ritual is carried out safely, a lottery is held for those who wish to be in the front row. Lottery registration will take place from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on January 9 in front of the South Gate along National Route 43, limited to the first 1,500 people, so those interested should gather there. As you proceed along the approach and pass the black torii gate, you will see, on your left, large fishing flags dedicated by people who prayed for prosperous business and household safety. And straight ahead is the newly revived main shrine building. The main shrine of Nishinomiya Shrine, which had been designated a National Treasure, was restored from war damage in its original form in 1961. About 60 years have passed since then, and last year it became the Reiwa-era main shrine building.

The goldfish scooping stall along the approach was pretty empty around 3:30 p.m.〜

Wonder what satsuma sticks are like〜

Pitching balls. Quite a few people were playing〜

As you keep going, it does start to get crowded〜

The stall with Akashiyaki and oden has seating in the back〜

A tasty snack you can hold like a hand warmer. Taiyaki is 200 yen each.

The Karaage Torinist stall next to the torii gate really stands out〜

And here’s Sanpoya, the baby castella shop〜 It’s right after you enter through the torii gate!


They were selling two sizes, 500 yen and 1,000 yen〜

As expected, there was a huge line〜

The line for the chozuya purification basin was incredible.

There’s a temporary chozuya next to Sanpoya〜 That one is less crowded〜

The area with the shrine office, where omikuji fortunes and other items are sold. Compared with the morning and other times, it was less crowded.

The impressive Sakasa Matsu pine. At this time of day, you can enter the main shrine without lining up〜

Once inside, there are a lot of people, but since it’s wide across the front, you can pray right away〜

The main shrine’s new copper roof really makes it shine even more!

Brewed with Miyamizu water.

Sake offerings

So much Nishinomiya sake〜〜 I didn’t know Yakiniku Katchan had its own sake〜 bottom right

Hanshin Tigers rookie Kaito Shimomura is a true Miyakko, born and raised in Nishinomiya.

Ebessan’s dashimaki omelet was being sold in front of Tsumiki〜 This also had a huge line〜


(Photo: Kagayaki No. 509 @ Nishi2 Supporter)

By the way, on the night of the 3rd, the line for worship apparently looked about like this〜 Next time, we’ll also post an article about Toka Ebisu!