Happy New Year 2009

As I wrote, I might have moved to Okinawa for business. It was decided on 29th not to move, so it was the hectic year-end. Now I can relax on New Year's Days.

I made a New Year's visit to shrine today. I wanted to avoid terribly crowded shrines and temples. I can't move at all, jostling and shoving, taking for hours to reach a main hall. It's far situation from praying.
So I chose a neighborhood Kumano shrine. I guessed it was not so crowded.

When I was out of my apartment, the sky is very clear.
I think you can see such a beautiful sky every New Year in Tokyo.


This is the gate of Kumano shrine. Wow! I can't believe it! It's empty rather than uncrowded.


Look at this short line! Hmm... I predicted it was not crowded, but there are much fewer people than I expected. Even though it is not such a famous shrine, it's in the center of Shinjuku. (Shinjuku is one of the biggest towns in Tokyo.) I can't believe it.
I could reach the main hall soon.


This is a charm shop. In popular shrines, it's hard to reach a charm shop as well as a main hall. Buying a charm is always like a battle. I used to be worried about my obi of kimono. But here is... haha. I didn't buy any charm. I focused on my job for wishes of this year, but there were any charms for job luck.
It was good that I chose Kumano shrine! I might come here again next year.


It is my custom to drink amazake whenever I visit to shrine on New Year, I don't know why though. Although my family didn't drink it, I always drank it since I was a kid.
It's yummy. But I burnt my tongue. Uh... It's painful.