Catching up on New Year's Hatsumode

I've been reviewing photos that taken earlier this year and should have posted, and came across a mid-January but first shrine visit of the year (or hatsumode).  Anyway, although it was the second weekend of January, the Meji Shrine was still in New Year's form.

At the main entrance from Harajuku Station, there were large bins set up to collect all of the omamori (silk sachets good luck charms) and hamaya (wooden arrows).

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 17 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/640 sec.

I'm not completely sure of the reason (perhaps it's Shinto versus Buddhist tradition), but daruma, dolls and teddy bears are not welcome and cannot be disposed of here.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 35 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/320 sec.

As we passed through the second large torii gate, the atmosphere starts to get more festive. Around New Year's there are plenty of traditional decorations including lanterns, sake casks, and banners with the names of the sponsors.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5, ISO 200, 1/125 sec.

Just outside the main shrine area you can see main temple gate with a large ema (or wooden plaque) proclaiming the year of the snake.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 30 mm, f8, ISO 200, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 80 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/500 sec.

This is were you get the your hamaya (wooden arrows) for the New Year.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 120 mm, f8.0, ISO 200, 1/20 sec.

Here are the sake casks that I was talking about earlier.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 145 mm, f8.0, ISO 800, 1/100 sec.

The back-lit large torii gate and speckled lighting through trees at Meiji Jingu was beautiful.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 100 mm, f5.6, ISO 640, 1/200 sec.