“Ever since Meiji Shrine was constructed, it was assumed that it would have a lot of visitors. As such, the approach to the shrine was deliberately made very wide to handle the flow of even a lot of people smoothly. The south entrance, facing Harajuku, is about 14.5 meters wide, while the north entrance facing Yoyogi is 11 meters wide, and the west entrance, near Sangubashi, is 7.3 meters wide. At the second torii [Shinto gate], where the northern and southern entrances meet, the approach grows to a total of 18 meters in width. There was a prediction that the most visitors would come from this side, and indeed, the majority of people enter via the north and south entrances.”

“Records from the time of Meiji Shrine’s opening to the public for general worship actually show that there always has been a huge amount of visitors. The forest around the shrine had just been planted but the shrine was designed to convey an aura of majesty and I do think that this aura was what attracted so many people even back then.”

“Every year, the preparations for New Year’s starts with the making of zodiac sign-related goods. Lucky charms can be bought all around the year, of course, but special ones with the zodiac sign of the upcoming year are being made from summer on. While I cannot give too many details, there are many different prototypes made which are then corrected over and over again. Next year’s zodiac is the rooster, but the charms of Meiji Shrine are always adorned in the image of parent and child. And of course, the images are different from the rooster year 12 years ago.”

“The omamori [lucky charms] are available in a variety of colors but these are in no way gendered specifications, so simply choose whichever one you like best. Generally, there is no ‘expiration date’ on them but it is better to renew the ofuda [paper talismans inside the lucky charms] for the New Year. I think that having a lucky charm from a distant shrine or temple for many years is perfectly fine; if you wish for something, you should carry it with you until this wish is fulfilled.”

“Because the stone bridges and stairs might be slippery from rain or ice, we scatter gravel so that no one slips. Also, there are little trenches on the sides of the walkways to drain rainwater which also are covered entirely. This is all to make the shrine precincts safe. As the grounds are very wide, we do this throughout December.”

“From the end of December to mid-January, the southern torii is adorned with giant ema [wishing plaques] and large shugoya [a decorative arrow that wards off evil]. Terms such as “good fortune,” “protection from disaster,” and “safety of one’s home” will be written on the big signboard, the same wishings that are written on the shugoya.”

“Using bamboo grass that was planted in the forest of Meiji Shrine, dusters are made and the shrine is dusted: susuharai [lit.: “soot sweeping,” annual cleaning ritual]. It is a ceremony to welcome the New Year. The first step of this ritual is to tell the kami [Shinto deity] “I am starting susuharai now,” then the Shinto priests clean the main shrine and its surroundings for 30 to 40 minutes. Of course, the main building is cleaned and dusted every day.”

“We focus on offertory boxes and counters selling amulets and lucky charms. For the people who want to visit even after the shrine gates are closed, a box is set up to leave old charms and other festive goods.
When it gets particularly crowded, visitors are guided to enter the shrine on one side of the approach and leave it on the other up to the second torii. Additionally, we provide secure evacuation routes on the left and right, used when someone feels unwell or sick. Guidance and security is both increased and we also cooperate with the local police forces.”

“On New Year’s Eve, representatives and associates of Meiji Shrine visit the shrine for the first prayer ceremony of the New Year, and the highest Shinto priests beat the large taiko drum exactly at midnight. This is when the people waiting in front of the shrine start the shrine visit as well. Another prayer festival is held at the kaguraden [a hall for music and dance]. A fee is required if you want to attend (10,000 yen for the first three days of New Year) but the festival is specifically held to pray for health for the entire next year. For three days this is specially held in the hall of worship and you can sound the taiko drum that welcomed the New Year.”

“There are certain people who treat hatsumode on New Year’s Eve like a countdown event, drinking alcohol while queueing in front of the shrine. But the meaning of visiting a shrine on New Year’s Eve and thus doing hatsumode is to do so in a ceremonious manner and to make your own vows. This is the purpose of hatsumode, hence a shrine is not a place to drink and party. However, there are places to eat and drink to warm up your body after hatsumode as well. They are called naorai but their actual purpose is to provide a place for priests to return to the worldly realm after a ceremony or a rite, and to offer sake to the kami. When you come to do hatsumode or for a festival, clean your mind and body to refresh yourself, then leave while feeling relaxed. I hope that people keep this in mind.”

There are points that one should be aware of, not only when visiting Meiji Shrine for hatsumode but also for a regular shrine visit.

“The area is not a public park; the entire area is shrine grounds. Occasionally, you can see joggers and runners but as all the walkways are shrine approaches, walk them with a calm heart. In summer, there are a lot of insects as the forest is rather deep and you’re preparing to see the kami, so wearing clothes that don’t expose too much skin is advisable.”

“We recommend visiting Meiji Shrine on a winter morning. The spring water of Kiyomasa Well is always between 6 and 15 degree Celsius, and the steam rising from it is a very beautiful sight. In the summer, the water feels pleasantly cool.”

The white wooden torii right in front of the southern entrance gate was just completed on the 26th of October 2016 and is the tallest, entirely made from domestic cypress. It appears as if it is sparkling but it is not painted in any color – it is simply the natural color of the wood. 2017 will be its first hatsumode. With its size of 12 meters in height, 9.1 meters in width, and 17 meter long kasagi [the top beams of a torii], it is the biggest torii in Japan. It is made out of Taiwanese cypress.”

“The Treasure Museum was slightly damaged in the Tohoku earthquake of 2011 but we managed to keep it intact but eventually, we need to repair the entire building and thus it will be closed from January 10th of 2017. The treasures will be moved to a newly established facility.
It was built in 1921 and at time, there were already complications as for storing the treasures. However, since the building was designated an important cultural asset, there are a lot of restrictions. Thus, we decided to move the treasures to a new facility. Now really is the last opportunity to see the Treasure Museum in the shape it was originally built in. The ceiling is adorned with Japanese paper after the Azekurazukuri style and while the building has a distinctively Japanese atmosphere, there are no pillars in the exhibiting room and it is a very early Japanese-style construction of reinforced concrete. The carriage and desk of the Meiji Emperor are exhibited, and please feel free to relax on the spacious ground in front of the Treasure Museum.”

Meiji Shrine
http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/