Wondering what to do in Kyoto for the New Year holidays? The answer is simple: Hatsumode! Hatsumode is the first shrine visit of the year and a great way to enjoy Japan’s traditions and culture during your vacation exists.

Kyoto has more shrines than you can count, but some are more popular than others. Plus, the holiday season usually sees an increase in shrine visitors — both tourists and locals. 

If you want to beat the crowds in Kyoto during the New Year, check out our list. It shows the best shrines and temples for  Hatsumode. Once you decide which one best suits you and your New Year wishes, you can be sure you’ll have a Happy New Year in Japan!

In Japan, New Year celebrations take place on January 1 and sometimes extend into January 2 and 3. Most businesses are closed for this period. It’s a restful yet exciting time where people eat special traditional dishes, visit loved ones, send postcards, and attend New Year parties.

The Japanese New Year is one of the most important holidays in Japan, and this is why Hatsumode is such a big deal for Japanese people.

Hatsumode is the first shrine visit of the year, usually done during the Japanese New Year period of January 1 to January 3. During Hatsumode, people give thanks for the previous year and pray for good luck in the upcoming year. 

Some people visit a local shrine to pray for general good luck, while others seek out a shrine that is associated with their specific wishes. A popular Hatsumode activity at shrines is to buy lucky charms and omikuji — slips of paper with random fortunes written on them.

The most popular shrines quickly become crowded and overwhelming during this time, so try out the shrines off the beaten path for a more peaceful experience of celebrating the New Year in Kyoto.

Kawai Shrine is part of the Shimogamo Shrine complex and offers one of the most unique things to do in Kyoto.

Kawai Shrine enshrines the Shinto goddess Tamayori-hime-no-Mikoto who is known for her exceptional beauty. Women who want to achieve or maintain beauty, as well as people in the beauty industry, visit this shrine to pray.

The shrine offers prayer plaques (kagami-ema) in the shape of a hand mirror, with a face drawn on it. On the plaque, you draw and design the ideal face you want to have, then write your wish on the back. There is also a power stone at the main hall that is said to give you beautiful skin if you touch it.

Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine, commonly known as Kamigamo Shrine, is close to the Shimogamo Shrine. They were built around the same time (7th century) and both enshrine the same lightning deity.

Though it gets a bit busy during the first few days of the new year, Kamigamo Shrine is typically peaceful and not crowded. Kamigamo Shrine has a wide variety of omikuji, including ones you can choose based on your Chinese zodiac.

Within the temple grounds is Kamiyama Spring Water Coffee, a small shop offering coffee brewed with sacred water. It really hits the spot on a cold January day!

Ōta Shrine is a branch of Kamigamo Shrine, but it was actually built earlier (although the exact date is unknown). This shrine is quiet, even during Hatsumode.

Thanks to its long history, Ōta Shrine is associated with longevity, which people visit to pray for. People also visit to pray for success in the arts because the enshrined deity is associated with the performing arts.

If you visit Ōta Shrine for the New Year in Kyoto, you should take some time to stroll along the Myojin River that cuts through the temple grounds, admiring the quaint buildings and the peaceful atmosphere.