Dear Diane, Dear Shaded Viewers,
On January 1st, I went to Meiji Jingu Shrine to perform a purification ceremony as 2012 is the grand climacteric year for women who were born in 1976. It think it is my first time to visit Meiji Jingu Shrine on the new year's day. As there are more than 3 million people visiting there to pay New Year's visit every year to Meiji Jingu Shrine, I was expecting to see many people…
From the entrance, there were already…
I could not believe to see a big screen with Mc Donald's TV commercial at sacred Meiji Jingu Shrine… They really should stop having TV there as people are there for pray, not to be forced to see TV commercials while they are waiting to get to the main Shrine. There is no way to escape…
Normally, you can get to the columns you see in front, but there is a big pool to throw coins/bills so that you cannot get closer than this on New Year days…
After waiting almost one and half hours, I discovered I had to pay at least 10,000 yen (100 euros) for the purification ceremony on New Year's day (until 3rd actually). When I went there 3 years ago, I think I had paid only 5000 yen. As I did not have enough cash in my wallet and did not feel like coming back and wait for another one and half hours, I just prayed and left for the day. I will go back when the craziness of New Year is over…
Later,
Akiko.
