Kyoto

Dec 29, 2014 - 1 min read

New Year at Heian Jingu Shrine

Kimonos in the crowd

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

Many Kyoto women dress up in kimono at New Year, perhaps because you can ride the subway for free if you wear kimono!

Waiting on the steps of the shrine to pray

Heian Jingu Shrine has very striking architecture

A Japanese orange tree protected by screens

To discover your fortune, turn the container over and shake until a strip of wood comes out

Take the strip of wood from the container to this booth and exchange it for your fortune paper (omikuji in Japanese)

Barrels of sake donated to the shrine

Women dressed in kimono sharing a snack from one of the food stalls

Notice

Heian Shrine is undergoing a series of renovations expected to last until March 2031. The shrine and garden will remain accesisble throughout, but some buildings may be covered up.

Latest on Heian Shrine

Heian Jingu shrine is a striking Kyoto landmark with its elegant green-roofed vermilion buildings. Many Kyoto people go there for Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year (and sometimes the only one!) As at other Shinto shrines, you can check your fortune for the coming year by buying omikuji. If you visit at New Year, you are sure to see women wear kimonos. At New Year, kimono wearers can ride the subway for free!

More info

Find out more about Heian Shrine.

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Cathy Cawood

By Cathy Cawood

Community writer

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