Scenes from the first shrine visit of New Year’s Day 2021 (^O^)／
Ebessan (Nishinomiya Shrine)
We went to pray at around 10:45 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
There were no food stalls on the walkway from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station, and it felt like there weren’t many people around.
We were able to move smoothly through the Akamon Gate area too.
There were no stalls along the approach either, so we could walk through at a relaxed pace.
The purification water basin was closed.
The main shrine building was not crowded either (^ ^)
There was plenty of space set aside for talismans, charms, and omikuji fortunes.
For omikuji, you could choose either the tai-mikuji for ¥300 or the folded omikuji for ¥100 (^O^)／
I drew a tai-mikuji ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆
On the way back, there were more security guards, and more people were heading toward the shrine approach.
If you want a more relaxed visit, the morning might be the best time!
Hirota Shrine
We visited just before noon.
Hirota Shrine has a free parking lot, so cars were starting to line up waiting for parking (^ ^)
There were a few stalls along the shrine approach (^O^)／
The purification water basin had no ladles, and the water flowed out directly.
There were a lot of people in front of the main shrine building, but everyone was lining up with space between them.
For the ¥200 omikuji, it seemed like the usual style, but you disinfected before drawing one (^O^)／
A shrine maiden hands it to you directlyI got han-kichi ^^; But it was full of good things
Since it was just before noon, we had to wait in line a little to pray ^^;
Yakujinsan (Mondo Yakujin Tokoji Temple)
We arrived at Yakujinsan around 2 p.m. There were quite a few people, but it still felt like you could keep social distance.
The stairs and temple grounds were one-way.
The purification water basin was closed.
There were quite a lot of people in front of the main hall.
And there was a pretty long line for omikuji ^^; The ¥200 omikuji was the usual style, with disinfecting first.
For the eto-mikuji, ¥500, you choose a zodiac figurine.
The fortune comes out from inside its belly.
Lastly
Everyone was wearing masks and being considerate as they prayed, lining up with space between each other. Each shrine and temple was also taking measures against COVID-19.
May everyone’s wishes be heard, and may COVID come to an end…..(^^)
