Good places to travel on New Year's Day 2024

The New Year is coming soon. Japanese people like to visit shrines and pray for a good year during the New Year's Day. This first visit of the New Year is called Hatsumode.

Let me introduce you to a World Heritage Shrine in Kyoto, Shimogamo Shrine⛩️. If you also want to pray for yourself, family and friends, you can go and see.

The official name of Shimogamo Shrine is Kamo-mioya Shrine. Because it is located downstream of the Kamo River, it is commonly known as Shimogamo Shrine by the people of Kyoto. In the Heian period, as the guardian deity of Japan and the capital Kyoto, and as the clan deity of the imperial family, it received special faith. It also often appears in literary works such as 'The Tale of Genji' and 'The Pillow Book', so it also flourished as one of the cultural and religious centers of this era.

There are various other shrines within the Shimogamo Shrine. The green Aioi Shrine, the beautiful Kawai Shrine, the disease-removing Inoue Shrine also known as Mitarashi Shrine, the successful contract signing Insho Shrine, and the twelve zodiac Ii Shrine.

Not only that, the Tadasu Forest within the Shimogamo Shrine is also the birthplace of Kansai Rugby. The first rugby department in Japan was founded by students of Keio Gijuku. In the 44th year of Meiji (1910), students of the old system San'ko (now Kyoto University) began to teach rugby in Tadasu Forest. So you can also buy Japanese rugby🏈 amulets here, which is very special.

At the beginning of the New Year, you can try to visit Shimogamo Shrine to realize your wishes. Let's start the New Year's travel from here.

📍Address: 59 Shimogamo Izumikawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
🚃Transportation: 12 minutes walk from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Electric Railway

Post by KNOX BOOTH | Jan 14, 2024