Japan has a custom called "hatsumode," meaning "the first visit" to a shrine or temple at the beginning of the year to pray for happiness in the new year. Following the tradition, most Japanese people usually go to a shrine or temple between January 1-3, or by mid-January, at the latest. At Kita-in Temple, a famous temple in the Kawagoe area, you can have hatsumode as soon as the New Year's Eve Bell starts ringing at midnight on January 1, announcing the end of the previous year. Until January 3, you will also be able to enjoy the lively atmosphere there with many food stalls and events. The "KAWAGOE PASS" is a reasonable way to visit Kawagoe.
*The style of hatsumode may be different from previous years due to COVID-19.
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