Hatsumōde

Generally, wishes for the new year are made, new omamori (charms or amulets) are bought, and the old ones are returned to the shrine so they can be cremated.

It is customary to spend the early morning of New Year's Day in domestic worship, followed by consumption of sake (toso) and special celebration food (e.g. osechi, zōni).

The tradition is believed to be fairly recent and primarily created during the Meiji era by railway companies seeking to drive custom.

[4][5] Other popular destinations include Atsuta Jingū, Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Dazaifu Tenman-gū, and Hikawa Shrine.

The omikuji goes into detail, and offers predictions relating to various areas of life, such as business and love, for that year, in a similar way to horoscopes in the West.