IN PICTURES: Japan says good night to 2018, good morning to 2019
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Samurai cosplayers pose Monday afternoon at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, one of the major shrines in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHI
Japan greeted 2019 — the year of the boar, according to the Chinese astrological calendar — Monday evening and Tuesday morning with traditional visits to both major and minor temples and not-so-traditional events, such as the massive one at the famous Shibuya Crossing, where thousands gathered to shout the countdown displayed on digital signboards.
Hours after revelers toasted the new year, early birds ascended to prime viewing spots to witness the first sunrise of 2019.
Here is a selection of scenes from the dawning of the new year in Japan.
On New Year’s Eve, visitors make their way up the stairs to Kamakura’s famous Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, a shrine first established in 1063. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIA golden retriever gets in the spirit. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIShrine monks carry collected talismans to be burned in otakiage rite. Traditionally, good-luck charms from the previous year are destroyed around New Year’s. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIOmamori talismans are displayed before being burned at a otakiage (bonfire). | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIRYUSEI TAKAHASHIPriests carry the o-mamori to be blessed and burned. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHISamurai cosplayers pose Monday afternoon at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, one of the major shrines in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIStalls selling traditional festival fare prep for the long evening at Hachimangu. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHITraditional and contemporary icons mingle on a stall’s mask rack near Kenchoji temple in Kamakura. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIA monk of Kenchoji temple in Kamakura prepares for the joyo-no-kane rite at midnight. At many temples, a large bell is run 108 times. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHISome temples allow ordinary visitors, who show up early, the chance to be one of the bell-ringers. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIThe rite is purifying in nature, as it is believed that 108 gongs of the bell are believed to represent evil passions. | RYUSEI TAKAHASHIThousands of revelers fill the Shibuya ‘scramble’ crossing and shout the countdown to a new year. | KYODOCrowds line up for hatsumode (first temple visit of the year) at Naritasan Shinshoji, a temple founded in 940. | YOSHIAKI MIURAThe Great Peace Pagoda (Heiwa no Daito) looms over the grounds of Naritasan Shinshoji. | YOSHIAKI MIURATemple maidens sell talismans (omamori) at Naritasan Shinshoji temple in Narita. | YOSHIAKI MIURAVisitors to Naritasan Shinshoji display a new purchased kumade, ornamental rakes believed to bring prosperity in the new year. | YOSHIAKI MIURAA stall near Naritasan Shinshoji sells daruma. The dolls and modeled after Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk famous for focus and dedication. | YOSHIAKI MIURAThousands crowd the grounds of Naritasan Shinsoji on New Year’s Eve. | YOSHIAKI MIURAStalls selling traditional festival fare are open until the early morning. | YOSHIAKI MIURAMonks ring the large temple bell at Naritasan Shinsoji. | YOSHIAKI MIURACustomarily before praying, temple visitors throw money into large offering collection boxes. | YOSHIAKI MIURACrowds at Nartiasan Shinshoji | YOSHIAKI MIURANartiasan Shinshoji | YOSHIAKI MIURAVisitors to Ikegami Honmonji burn incense before entering the temple to pray for good luck in the new year. | MARK THOMPSONPeople line up to enter Ikegami Honmonji, one of Tokyo’s largest temples. | MARK THOMPSONMonks sell omamori, talismans believe to protect their owners over the next year. | MARK THOMPSONSunrise at Naritasan Shinshoji | YOSHIAKI MIURAPeople witness the first sunrise of the new year from Naritasan Shinshoji on Tuesday morning. | YOSHIAKI MIURAEarly-morning visitors to Naritasan Shinshoji | YOSHIAKI MIURA
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