Japan is famous for its shrines and temples. One part of Japanese culture is the New Year’s visits to shrines or temples. People go on to those places of pilgrimages to pray for peace, health, and/or improved fortune for the year.
Since I started working as a freelancer, every year I visit the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto (usually in January), and have a prayer performed for business prosperity in the coming year. In 2026, I visited the Fushimi Inari shrine for the prayer today, January 25 (Sunday) ✨
It generally starts with paying the offering (hatsuhoryo) at the shrine office and registering for the prayer. At the Fushimi Inari shrine, you then proceed to worship at the main hall, where a norito (Shinto prayer) is recited, incorporating your wishes, address, name, and so on. After the norito is recited, you perform the tamagushi hairei (offering of a sacred branch), receive the osagari (items like amulets or sacred sake given after the prayer), and that’s the end. Depending on the amount of the offering paid, there may also be a chance to view a kagura dance afterward.
Since it’s only once a year, I always double-check the etiquette. During the prayer, the aforementioned tamagushi hairei involves the following steps:
- Receive a tamagushi branch from the priest (support the root of the branch with your right hand and gently support the leafy side with your left hand).
- Rotate the tamagushi horizontally 90 degrees clockwise, and express gratitude and/or make a vow.
- Then rotate it another 180 degrees clockwise, and place it onto the stand with the branch base facing the altar.
- Perform two bows, two claps, and one bow.
At the main hall, dozens of groups are ushered in and worship together. During the tamagushi hairei, you perform one after another without waiting for the previous group/person to finish: one group is called, then the next, and you receive the tamagushi, place it, and so on. However, for the first group/person, it’s not done in that flow: instead, they have to do it alone; the second group and onwards must wait. This time, unexpectedly, I was the one called 🤯 I had checked the etiquette in advance, but the surprise made me nervous and flustered, and I ended up asking the priest to confirm the procedure 😂 It was a bit embarrassing. Next year, I want to pull it off smartly.
