Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of the go-to Hatsumode spots for Osaka locals. It is a special place in the hearts of many people, not only from Osaka, but from all over.

The architectural style of the Sumiyoshi-zukuri main shrine is the oldest in the history of shrine architecture. People come here to pray for good luck, prosperity in business, traffic safety, warding off evil, happy marriage, and easy childbirth.

Every New Year's Eve, the gate is crowded with visitors. At midnight, the drums are struck, applause rings throughout, and the shrine precincts grow lively with people praying for the happiness of the New Year.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・December 31, 10 PM–8 PM on January 1
・January 2–3: 6 AM–7 PM
・January 4–5: 6 AM–6 PM
・January 6: 6:30 AM–5 PM
・Official website

This old shrine, popularly known as Tenma-san, is also famous for the Tenjin Matsuri, one of Japan's three major festivals held every July.

This Temmangu Shrine, along with Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto and Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka, enshrines the deity Sugawara no Michizane, the God of Scholarship and Fine Arts.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・December 31: 9 AM–9 PM
・January 1: Midnight–8 PM
・January 2–3: 6 AM–7 PM
・January 4: 9 AM–5 PM
・Official website

This is the first Japanese Buddhist temple built by Prince Shotoku in 593, and sponsored by the state. Despite being damaged by fires and disasters over the years, the reconstructed temple retains the oldest architectural arrangement style in Japan called Shitennoji-shiki-garan.

Many worshipers flock to the shrine for Hatsumode every year seeking fortune and prayers. Shushoue is held from New Year's Day to January 14. On January 3, the Motosan Daishie Prayer Ceremony is held to pray for academic achievement and the passing of entrance exams.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・Open all day
・Official website

Located in the center of the Minoh National Monument Park, this temple has been famously nicknamed the Temple of Victory for over 1300 years. Even warlords such as Genji and Ashikaga were known to have visited to pray for luck. More and more people are also dedicating auspicious Winning Daruma Dolls at this shrine, which reminds us to "fall seven times and get up eight."

Every New Year, this shrine attracts crowds of people praying for good luck, warding off bad luck, and for success in business, exams, and more. From December 31 at 10 AM to January 5, visitors can also receive blessings from the Fukumusume, or shrine maidens, of Katsuo-ji.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・December 31: 8 AM–5 PM, 10 PM–7:30 PM on January 1
・January 2–3: 8 AM–7:30 PM
・January 4–5: 8 AM–6 PM
・Official website

Imamiya Ebisu Shrine is believed to have been built in the 600s, and is a popular spot to pray for prosperity in business, good luck, and traffic safety. Many people visit this shrine for their Hatsumode in Osaka.

The annual Toka-Ebisu Festival, also known as Ebessan by the locals, is held from January 9-11. Every year, this colorful New Year's tradition is celebrated over three days in Osaka - Yoi Ebisu on the 9th, Hon Ebisu on the 10th, and Nokori Ebisu on the 11th. You can receive Fukuzasa (lucky bamboo branches) during all 3 days and nights. Nearly 1 million visitors attend annually during this 3-day period.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・January 1: Midnight–10 PM
・January 2–31: 6 AM–10 PM
・Official website

Namba Shrine is an old shrine with a history of nearly 1600 years, said to have been built by Emperor Hanzei in honor of Emperor Nintoku. Various festivals are held throughout the year, including Setsubun's "Tama no Osai" (Night before Setsubun), as well as summer festivals. Many couples also have held their wedding ceremonies here for many years.

The main deity Nintoku Okami, is enshrined along with Susanoo-no-Mikoto at Bakuroinari Shrine in Setsumatsusha, where visitors flock for Hatsumode to pray for prosperous business, peace of mind, disaster prevention, and a number of other wishes.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・December 31: 6:30 AM–6:30 PM; and 11:30 PM–6 PM on January 1
・From January 2: 6:30 AM–6 PM
・Official website

Naritasan Fudoson, built in 1934, is a famous temple of the Fudoson faith. Many people visit during Hatsumode for a variety of reasons, whether to pray for good luck and make a wish, or to enjoy the New Year's events such as the Traffic Safety Festival.

It is also the first temple in Japan that offers prayers for traffic safety for drivers and their vehicles. Nearly 200,000 drivers visit in their cars every year. The procession of cars gathered from all over the country to receive these blessings is a sight to behold!

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・Open all day (Main Shrine Hours: December 31, 11 PM to January 1, 9 PM)
・January 2–3: 5:30 AM–8 PM
・January 4–5: 5:30 AM–7 PM
・January 6–7: 5:30 AM–6 PM
・From January 8: 5:30 AM–5 PM
・Official website

Hiraoka Shrine is located in Higashi-Osaka City and is famous for its plum blossoms (Hiraoka Plum Grove). The precincts are full of old, green trees, including camphor and cedars. Though all the plum trees had to be cut down in 2015 due to a virus, they were replanted again for 2021, and should be in full bloom again next spring.

Scores of people visit the shrine every year on New Year's Day in search of good luck and an abundant harvest. A Shinto ritual called Kayu-Ura is held on January 15 to predict the year's harvest, based on how much gruel is burned at the bottom of a pot after bamboo and rice are cooked by the priest.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・Open all day
・Official website

Hochigai Shrine, located on the border of the three political districts of Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi, is considered to be a pure land with no direction.

Ancient custom dictates that when traveling far away, if the direction you are going in seems to be unlucky, continue your journey from a different direction. Hochigai Shrine is a special shrine for such times.

Many believe that a visit to this shrine before traveling or moving far away will help you avoid disasters. Visitors from all over the world come to pray for safety during events such as moving and construction of a new house. For the first three days of every New Year, many come to pray for direction for that year as well.

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・Open all day
・Official website

Legend says that the spirit of Yamato Takeru Nomikoto flew into the area as a swan, and spent the night in Otori Taisha. When he did, all kinds of trees grew overnight. Because of this, the 1500-tsubo (approx. 4,959 m2) shrine precincts are also called "Chigusa no Mori" (thousand trees forest).

This particular Otori Shrine is the main shrine of all the Otori shrines in Japan. People come here to pray for success, good luck, warding off evil, and traffic safety.

There is also a giant camphor tree with raised roots, a sacred tree said to be auspicious for prosperous business. Come say a prayer to deity Yamato Takeru Nomikoto, and find the power to succeed in the New Year!

New Year's Holiday Hours:
・December 31: 6 AM–11 PM on January 1
・January 2: 6 AM–10 PM
・January 3: 6 AM–9 PM
・From January 4: 6 AM–6 PM
・Official website

The temples and shrines introduced here enshrine deities dedicated to all kinds of blessings. Wherever you go, don't forget to thank God or Buddha (or whoever you believe in!), and have a safe Hatsumode, and a very happy, healthy New Year!

(*Information as of December 19, 2024. Depending on the situation visiting hours and events may be changed, delayed, or canceled. Please check with the respective official websites before visiting.)

Text by: Efeel