How I Spent the New Year (in Tokyo)

I hail from the Philippines and new year celebrations there are full of fireworks, reunions, and lots of food and booze- always almost a blast (pun intended lol). Migrating to Japan, I was quite disappointed with how holidays are being celebrated cos of how quiet it can be, especially if you're not fond of new year countdown parties in hotels and clubs (cos that's mostly how it goes in my part of Tokyo, though it doesn't apply to all). But having stayed here for so long made me learn more of the country's new year traditions whether I intend to or not and I couldn't be more appreciative towards these things. Now, I appreciate the calmness and the quietness every 31st of December, so much, that going to loud countdown parties and blasting fireworks wouldn't ever compare. I still love fireworks and firework festivals (hanabi taikai), don't get me wrong. It's just that  I'd rather be somewhere calm and quiet every new year. Or maybe it's just my age to blame, eh? 笑笑

To help you picture what I'm babbling nonstop above, here's what I did during the first few days of 2020~  

✱ Gotokuji Temple/ "Lucky Cat" Temple Visit ✱

Right in front of Gotokuji Station, you'll see this manekineko/beckoning cat/good luck cat statue! This made me more excited of what was coming ahhhh~

The beau and I had to walk for a few minutes towards Yamashita Station (Tokyu Setagaya Line) because we opted to ride the tram to Miyanosaka Station, the station nearest our destination. You can also walk from Gotokuji if you like.

We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the neko tram ahhhh! Sadly, we weren't able to ride it but yeah, it's soooo kawaii!!!

From Miyanosaka Station, we walked for a few minutes and reached Gotokuji Temple.

This is the entrance. There were quite a number of people in the area as it was Hatsumode season (first temple/shrine visit of the year) when we came. 

First things first, we lined up, threw some coins, and prayed.

I do not practice Buddhism nor Shintoism but I like going to temples and shrines, respectively. I think there is no harm in giving respect  to religions other than mine and I welcome all good and kind prayers, no matter where they come from. I welcome all the luck and good things these prayers and wishes bring with open arms~

If you look closely, there are cat structures (white ones) under each layer of this wooden pagoda.

We found wooden ema plaques that visitors can purchase and write their hopes and prayers on.

The ema plaques can then be hung on the wall in the hope that the wishes written on them will come true.

Beside the ema wall, you'll see another entrance. And yup, this is THE entrance.

Walking a little, these manekineko figurines will greet you. 

And when you look to the left, these huuuuuuge collection of manekineko figurines will make you squeal in delight! This was what I came for ahhhhh~~~

Of course I had to document this. I've been wanting to visit this temple for so long and I attempted many times already but it's just this time that I actually did. Setagaya is quite far from where I live so I really had to take that into consideration when I decided to visit.

There are lots of manekineko figurines around Japan and you can see them easily anywhere but Gotokuji Temple is known for the right-pawed version of this good luck charm.

Gotokuji Temple is said to have been filled with lucky cat figurines donated by worshippers who knew about the legend of Naotaka (from the Ii Clan) and the temple cat. 

I have only read it from articles all over the www and according to the said articles, Naotaka survived a thunderstorm after a temple cat invited him in. As a sign of gratitude, Naotaka dedicated the temple to the Ii clan and when Naotaka passed away, the temple was named after his posthumous Buddhist name "Kyushoin-den Gotokuten ei-daikoji).

It was such a quiet escape from the noisy city. It felt as if I was not in Tokyo even for a bit!

Exiting the temple from where I entered it, I was amazed by the intertwined trees lol~

Going back to Miyanosaka Station and found some interesting things~

Love this brick wall! I just can't fathom why there's so little space after this pedestrian lane 😝 

✱ Hatsumode at Tokyo Daijingu plus omamori-buying ✱

So after a temple, we then decided to visit a shrine 30 minutes train ride away- Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, a few minutes walk from Iidabashi Station.

 We were shocked with the long queue! It was the longest line I've ever seen during hatsumode period! I was ready to give up and call it a day, good thing the beau pushed us to just go on with it cos we were already there.

After two hours of waiting, we were finally able to get in ~wew~

Tokyo Daijingu is connected to Ise Jingu in Mie Prefecture a.k.a. the holiest shrine in Japan. No wonder the lines were looooong!

This shrine is a place to pray for good marriage and good matches so many couples and girls come here- the exact reason I wanted to go here. I wanted to pray for Kenji and I's good marriage in the near future. Kenji and I lined up to say our prayers regarding our upcoming marriage and afterwards went on to get what I wanted to get...

...omamori! Ever since I started going to shrines, I always get omamori/lucky amulets. It's a must for me. I feel like if I work hard and also have luck with me on the side, I can be successful with what I put my mind into. Well, that's just me being superstitious but there's no harm in harnessing all the good luck I can get right? This time Kenji and I got each other work and enmusubi omamori. My mother said omamori works best if it's gifted to you so yeah...

I stay away from omikuji/fortune paper in shrines because I'm scared of drawing out bad fortune. But this day I was feeling very lucky and confident haha so I drew one. Also, it's in English so I might as well get one. Usually omkuji is written in Japanese and it's hard to understand even if you use Google Translate lol.

I got a Good Fortune slip yeyyyyyy! See, I was lucky! I kept it and tucked it away in my Hobonichi planner to remind me of the good things written inside. If you happen to get a bad fortune, the paper slip should be tied on the omikuji ropes available in the shrine to ward off the bad luck.

Also, I found this interesting thing here and I'm quite unsure how it works so I didn't try it (but took photos of so I can translate/research on it). 

From my research, it's kind of like an ema plaque but in stick form. You buy two wooden sticks and on the stick with the white string, you write your name and leave in the shrine so that the gods can be reminded of your wish, whereas you keep the stick with the red string in order "to attract love towards yourself".

Ahhhh busy day filled with prayers, wishes, and luck! I hope everything works out! Oh yeah, before these shrine and temple visits, I stuffed myself with NYE dinner complete with Osechi Ryori a.k.a. traditional Japanese New Year food courtesy of my mama! 👌🏻

Hope the above-mentioned activities brought justice to my point in the beginning of this post lol. I still miss the fun and noise of the New Year celebrations back in my home country from time to time and I really think if I'm still younger I'd probably pick it 100% but ya girl is turning into a tita (aunt in Filipino language) so you know the drill~ *wink*

How was your New Year? Do you have things you did that are specifically done just in your country when you welcome the new year? I'd appreciate if you'd tell me in the comment box below~ 

Happy 2020, everyone! Hope you had a great start!