Apart from the homes of their parents, and possibly even pachinko, the place most Japanese people will set out to visit over the New Year is the shrine. An event that, apart from a quick pray, invariably involves coughing up for a new collection of lucky charms.
And, more often than not, an omikuji (random fortune), which, after the fun of finding out if it’s a good or bad one,
can be securely fixed to something suitable and swiftly forgotten.
Thus allowing for arguably the most favoured part of most Japanese festivities, the food, which invariably comes from a fascinatingly varied selection of vendors, serving up equally varied victuals.
All the way from the savoury,
to the sweet.
Plus, for a bit of continuity, below are a couple of the same characters from last year, although one of them seemed decidedly dejected about the new decade.
And cooking with what appears to be his replacement, this still spritely old fella could well be tackling 2010 as a retiree.
gwinzer says
The next to last photo dude does not look happy at all!
Kafkaesque! says
That food makes my mouth watery 😮
AS says
I went to a local Hatsumode and although nothing like this it was a good experience :D. Eating some of that stall food would have been nice lol.
Allan alexandre says
Instead of the beauty shot good
Jim says
Great shots…
What camera are you using?
Lee says
Thanks Jim.
I use a Nikon D300, and these were all shot using the Nikkor 85mm f/1.4.
Eric says
Yakisoba, with the fried egg thrown on for free! Sounds pretty good. Judging by the picture he’s also thrown some bacon on top, and all for only 500 yen. I can’t understand why he’s feeling dejected though, he still must be making money.
phossil says
Miko girl (first pic) is really cute!
ait_meijin says
You are absolutely right. 🙂
jamesmallon says
Gotta love a country where the girls dress up as presents!
Brandon says
I’m sorry for asking this seemingly obvious question, but at what shrine did you take these photo’s?
Lee says
No need to apologise Brandon. I didn’t mention the shrine’s name, so there’s no way of knowing really. They were taken at Okunitama Shrine in Fuchu, western Tokyo. There’s not much about it in English unfortunately, but here’s a link to the ‘official’ website.
Brandon says
Thank you kindly, I spent the New Year’s taking pictures at Hachimangu shrine in Kamakura.
Lee says
Nice. Although pretty busy to say the least I’d imagine. Did you get many good shots?
Brandon says
I managed a few good shots. It was so packed though, that I didn’t come out with many that I was proud of, they were allowing people to enter in waves that day, so you can imagine the crowding.
Rex Dgrey says
That girl with the temple maiden dress is cute. do you have more pics of her?