Yasaka Shrine and Chion-in Temple in Kyoto 京都の八坂神社と知恩院

I went to the house of my friend who lived in Kyoto ,in the middle of January. I stopped by Yasaka Shrine 八坂神社and Chion-in知恩院 Temple before friend's house was visited, because I was able to have the chance to go to Kyoto.
Many Japanese has the custom of going to visit a shrine on New Year's Day. But because I had not gone yet, I decided to visit in Yasaka Shrine.

I went to Ponto-cho先斗町 to eat lunch first of all.
四条Shijo's Main Street has the department store and many shops and is convenient.
But because it always crowds there, I do'nt like there. There is thin streer called Pontocho where I turned to at the main street. There is nice, I like there.

I was walking and saw a pretty ornament.

I went to Yasaka Shrine for 初詣　hatumoude after having lunch.
Hatsumode is the first visit to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine in a new year. It usually goes originally on three day of the New Year.I often delay it because it was crowded.

This is a 絵馬Ema,votive picture. People buy the board, and they write wishes.
Examination passing.
I wish I get a girlfriend.
I wish my family is healthy. etc....
The board written various wish is hung like this.

It stopped by 知恩院　Chion-in Temple near Yasaka Shrine.
御影堂The Miei-do in Chion-in Temple is large. The passage that expands straight is a masterpiece.

The gate that is called sanmon三門 is very large. When I visited, it was specially open to the public though the tourist was not able usually to see in this gate.

The New Year's dishes of my home

A Happy New Year.
It is the New Year！In Japan,it's very cold today.

In general, the Japanese often spends Christmas time with the lover or friends . And, we spends with our family at the New Year.
We have the おせちosechi with the family at the New Year.
Osechi is the special New Year's foods .

The housewife packs various dishes into the box of three steps called 重箱juubako, at the end of the year.
Ffishes and the food boiled of vegetables etc, are packed in the boxes beautifully by them.
Therefore, housewives are very busy.
And, we spend the New Year while having the special New Year's food together on January 1.
But,recently,people who buy the Osechi and have the relaxed time at the end of the year.

This is a special New Year's food of my home.
In my home, there is no重箱 boxes for new year.,but I set some dishes.
Do these dishes look delicious?:)
It was hard, but I can spend the happy New Year because I can display dishes beautifully.

By the way, we eat soba attached tempura to well at the end of the year. This is called 年越しそば（tosikosisoba）New Year's Eve's buckwheat noodle.