(Originally posted with photo(s) at http://dlamini-dlamini.blogspot.com/)
Another new year (2008), another night at the temples and shrines to collect good fortune for the coming year, as the locals do. This year we visited a small temple/shrine just west across the river from Shimogamo shrine, and then moved on to Shimogamo shrine itself. It was most enjoyable.
Many, many people stayed up until the morning of January 1st, walking around temple grounds. Many friends went to more crowded shrines and temples, such as Yasakusa, next to Gion district of Kyoto.
There are a number of such occasions in Japan throughout the year, each with its own excuse, when people get together to do something that is outwardly rather ordinary, including street festivals, watching a mountain lit up by with a pattern using firewood, watching cherry blossoms and so on. The joy derived must have something to do with the feeling that one is part of a larger group with similar customs (shared identity), and also with the fact that one chooses to sacrifice time and money to attend such cultural events.
