New Year in Asakusa

Leisurly stroll around the Senso Ji temple for the new year. The difference from a few months back is striking: the foreign tourists are back !

Senso-ji Temple, located in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, is the city’s oldest and one of its most significant temples, making it a central location for New Year celebrations. During this time, the temple becomes a focal point for both locals and tourists seeking to participate in traditional customs and festivities to welcome the new year.

As the new year approaches, Senso-ji Temple is adorned with decorative banners, lanterns, and lights that amplify its already grand appearance. The atmosphere is vibrant and bustling, with tens of thousands of visitors flocking to the temple to take part in the first shrine visit of the year, known as hatsumode. This practice is considered an important cultural ritual, symbolizing the wish for good fortune, health, and happiness in the coming year.

Visitors often enter through the iconic Kaminarimon Gate, with its massive red lantern and protective statues, creating an impressive entrance that sets the tone for the celebration. As people make their way along Nakamise Street, the approach to the temple, they pass by stalls selling traditional snacks, souvenirs, and handmade goods, adding to the lively, festival-like atmosphere.

At the temple itself, the main hall becomes a center of activity. Worshippers gather in front of the hall to offer coins, clap their hands, bow, and make prayers. Many people also visit the large incense burner, where they waft the fragrant smoke over themselves as a ritual believed to purify the mind and body and bring good luck. The sound of people shaking omikuji (fortune slips) fills the air, as visitors seek out predictions for the upcoming year. Those who receive a positive fortune often keep it, while less favorable results may be tied to racks at the temple, a practice intended to leave the bad luck behind.

The New Year period at Senso-ji Temple is marked by a blend of solemnity and celebration. Traditional music, performances, and the scent of street food from nearby vendors add to the sensory experience. The temple’s deep history, dating back to the 7th century, combined with the excitement of the New Year, creates a unique and meaningful atmosphere.

PS: this video took more 3 days for youtube to fully process and provide the HDR version (200Gb of 4K 60fps footage is perhaps a bit much).