Masumida Shrine on New Year's Day 真清田神社 初詣
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Ichinomiya Station has both the JR Tokaido Line and Meitetsu Line. Ichinomiya literally means "Shrine No. 1."
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Inside Ichinomiya Station. It's pretty big. There are a few restaurants/shops.
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Rotary
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Way to Honmachi shopping street.
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Honmachi shopping arcade in Ichinomiya.
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Honmachi shopping arcade leads to Masumida Shrine. The banner says Happy New Year.
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Along the way in Honmachi arcade is a branch office of Ichinomiya City Hall with a musical clock.
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Musical clock
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Poster for Masumida Shrine hatsumode New Year's worshipping.
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After you exit Honmachi arcade, you see Masumida Shrine across the street.
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Masumida Shrine torii.
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I went to Masumida Shrine on Jan. 1, 2011 in the morning when it was still not that crowded.
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Masumida Shrine torii flanked with kadomatsu bamboo/pine decorations.
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Kadomatsu bamboo/pine decoration on New Year's Day.
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Romon Gate built in 1961. 楼門
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Barrels of sake rice wine near Romon Gate.
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Next to Romon Gate is this giant ema tablet with a rabbit design. 2011 is the year of the rabbit.
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After passing through Romon Gate, you see this. Straight ahead is the Honden shrine hall where you pray. On the left and right were food booths.
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Masumida Shrine Honden hall 御本殿
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Wash basin to purify yourself.
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Stall selling charms.
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Honden hall. Masumida Shrine worships a deity called Amenoho no Akari no mikoto. 天火明命
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Honden hall
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People pray in front of the Honden where there is a large offertory box.
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Offertory box with money.
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Inside the Honden, special prayers are held for people. Includes a dance.
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More stalls selling charms, etc.
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Food stalls
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One unique feature at Masumida Shrine during New Year's is this ring of fire (Hinowa kuguri). 火の輪くぐり
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During Jan. 1-5, for 300 yen, you can enter the ring of fire.
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First you pass through a small torii.
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The ring of fire leads to the Sacred Water Basin.
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Then you walk through the ring of fire which is actually a gas pipe with just a few flames at the top.
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Use the sacred water here to purify yourself.
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Look into this well until you see your reflection.
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Monument for family harmony.
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At the end, you receive a blessing from a shrine maiden.
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All the sins and impurities stuck onto you will then be shed. Good deal for 300 yen.
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Omikuji stall selling fortune paper for 200 yen.
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The omikuji is yellow, and tied onto a fence.
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Another stall selling auspicious charms.
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New Year's is when shrines make the most money selling hopes, dreams, and prayers. Great thing for them is that there is no money-back guarantee that your prayers/dreams will come true.
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Shrine for weaving god. 服織神社
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Praying to the weaving/textile god. After food, clothing is essential for man.
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The monument on the left has a poem written by the 9th daughter of Emperor Meiji.
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Sacred horse
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Place to return your old New Year's decorations and charms.
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Burning the old New Year's and shrine decorations and charms.
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Hot fire fueled by old decorations and charms.
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My video of Masumida Shrine on New Year's Day 2011, Ichinomiya, Aichi.
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