Happy New Year!!!  I wish everyone great happiness, health and success in 2017!

Many Japanese people visit their local Shinto Shrine or Buddhist Temple during the first three days of January to pray for their happiness and health for the year.

Among all these shrines and temples, Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo attracts most people and more than three million worshippers visit the shrine every year. Can you imagine three million people in three days? The shrine is so packed, but you don’t have to worry. We are very organaized people and get used to queue. Also we have ” DJ police “to lead the crowd and other policemen showing  stop/go sign board to control the flow of people.

Before making wishes, don’t forget to offer money to the God or Goddess of the shrine/temple. During New Years Holidays  many people visit Meiji Jingu Snrine, so the shrine prepare huge offertory box like a pool.

After people  make their New Year’s wishes, they buy good luck charms for the year or sometimes they write their wishe on an Ema, picture tablet.