In 84 daysCrowd impact: Extremely crowded
Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu (New Year Shrine Visit)
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
- When
- Where
- Tokyo (Shibuya)
Hatsumode is the first shrine visit of the new year, and Meiji Jingu is usually one of the busiest shrines in Japan over January 1–3. Visitors queue along the forested approach to offer a prayer, buy charms and draw omikuji fortunes. Opening hours for New Year 2027 have not been announced yet; the shrine customarily stays open through the night of New Year’s Eve, but this is not confirmed.
Calmer ways to enjoy it
- From January 4 onward, a weekday early morning visit is far calmer than the first three days.
- Hatsumode is traditionally made until around January 7, so going later in that week still counts.
- A small neighbourhood shrine near your hotel offers the same ritual with little or no queue.
Crowd impact
Expect around 3.0× the usual crowds near the main venue while the festival runs. This is an estimate, not a live count.
Practical tips
- Use Harajuku, Meiji-jingumae or Yoyogi stations; on peak days police run one-way routes and reaching the main hall can take a long time.
- Bring coins for the offering box and dress warmly — you may stand outdoors for a while on a January night or morning.
- Check the official site in late December for confirmed hours, including whether the gates stay open overnight on New Year’s Eve.
Dates & source
Dates checked against the organizer's official website.
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