My family and I (3 of us) will be in Tokyo for New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day. We know that New Year’s isn’t a huge affair in Japan and most spend it quietly with their families, which is perfect since we’re not huge party/celebratory people. We’re super interested in participating in hatsumode, especially since we are Buddhist (and usually like to go to a temple on New Year’s at home too).
We know that temples and shrines will be pretty busy at this time, so yes, we are prepared for crowds. That said, does anyone have recommendations for temples or shrines that *aren’t* so crowded as the main temples in Tokyo? When we try to look stuff up, most sites will list the “most popular” or “most visited” temples, which could only mean huge crowds with long queues. Wondering if there are any we can travel to that may be just a tiny bit less crowded.
Thanks so much in advance!
1 comment
Use all those articles as a guide where *not* to go as they will definitely have large crowds and long lines. 🙂 We did Hatsumode at a shrine out in Tachikawa (far west of Tokyo) one year and one year we visited Gotokuji temple and the nearby Sumo shrine in the Setagaya area. This was during Covid times though so while crowded it wasn’t quite the same as in normal years. I also really like Nezu Shrine though I’ve not been there for Hatsumode. [Hie Shrine](https://maps.app.goo.gl/iVjRDqgS2W1kJgn86?g_st=ic) in Akasaka is also really nice but I’d guess it will be pretty busy on New Year’s. If Hie is too busy, try the nearby [Toyokawa Inari Betsuin.](https://maps.app.goo.gl/qJQnSB4t547YKvPP8?g_st=ic)
Truthfully, you can just open Google maps and search for temple or shrine in any general area and if you go to the less popular ones (not listed in those articles) you’ll still find them crowded and decorated for New Years. Many people do the first shrine visit at their local neighborhood shrine so even the small ones that are usually very quiet will be busy.
– [Gotokuji Temple](https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-shimokitazawa/article-a0001417/)
– [Setagaya Hachimangu Shrine](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hW9ek9hGWPB5EZdf9?g_st=ic)
– [5 Underrated Shrines and Temples in Tokyo](http://www.kimonobijin.jp/en/sp/contents/detail.asp?c=10&id=849)
– [An Alternative Guide to Hatsumode in Tokyo](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2019/12/an-alternative-guide-to-japanese-hatsumode/)
– [10 Unusual Temples in Tokyo](https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/tokyo-japan/temples)
Happy Planning!