Here’s our report on the New Year’s Day hatsumode visit on January 1. For anyone planning to go tomorrow or later, we’ll show you what it was like through photos.
Nishinomiya Shrine
Nishi2 reader Miku went to Nishinomiya Shrine. Here’s what it looked like late at night just after the New Year began.
The Akamon Gate. So many people.
Of course, there was a line at the main shrine too.
西宮神社に参った人〜
Around noon
Salad Udon, a Nishi2 supporter, went to check things out on-site.
The Matsukiyo near the station that opened last year.
By Daiei. People are sitting down.
Chuo Shopping Street. So many people.
Looking back, it was like this.
Heading from Chuo Shopping Street toward Ebessan-suji.
We made it to Ebessan-suji. The crowd waiting at the light is huge.
This is looking south. A long, long line.
There are a ton of people toward Inuzuka Photo Studio too.
It looks like the route goes past Hirune and then across the traffic light.
For some reason, there’s a Christmas tree at Hirune!
Along Route 43.
Then heading north again toward the Akamon Gate.
We’re here.
Lots of food stalls. Lots of people too.
As usual, it looks hard to tell where the lines for the food stalls even start.
There’s goldfish scooping over there. Looks like you could stop by on the way back.
The South Gate side is one of the routes for heading home.
If you keep going straight, you’ll reach the main shrine. The Ebisu toothbrushes always catch my eye.
エビスハブラシのこと知ってます〜？
On the left, the sacred horse, Shinme, is enshrined.
The Daifuku Hatsumode period runs until the end of February, so there’s no need to rush. Sanpoya’s baby castella stall is here.
Almost at the main shrine.
The chozuya purification basin.
This is the omikuji area. Flow-wise, it might be better to visit the shrine first.
This is the tree at the final judging point for the Lucky Man race.
Sitting prominently in the center is the famous Sakasamatsu, or upside-down pine. It’s the one meant to keep Ebessan from getting pricked when he rides by on horseback.
Old charms and amulets from last year go here. It feels warm, doesn’t it?
Apparently, it took about 30 minutes to reach the main shrine from the station. Surprisingly quick.
The Kotodama Mikuji is actually fairly recent, and voice actors speak the fortunes. For details, see Maki’s article on Yahoo.
There are mitarashi dango and mochi.
