This is VASARA Kimono Rental Ginza store.

This time, I would like to introduce the following spots for New Year's Day: "New Year's Day" → "Kimono" → "Let's go to the shrine for the first time in the year" → "Where should we go?" (Temples excluded.)

When I asked Google Sensei "the closest shrine to Ginza," a bunch of cute shrines came up. Wow, I wonder if I can go there on my lunch break? I wanted to peruse the list, but if I'm going to have my customers go out in kimono, I want a shrine that is splendid, photogenic, fun, and has good fortune. And then I remembered my special first shrine visit!

"Tour of the Five Shrines of Tokyo".

The Tokyo Five Shrines are the five most prestigious shrines in Tokyo: Yasukuni Shrine, Meiji Shrine, Tokyo Daijingu, Hie Shrine, and Okunitama Shrine. If you visit the five shrines on your first visit of the year, you can get a special votive plaque from the last shrine you got a goshuin from if you collect all the goshuin stamps from the five shrines on a special form for a limited time between January 1st and March 31st.

There is no particular order to visit the Tokyo Five Shrines. However, since only Okunitama Shrine is in Fuchu and the remaining four are in Tokyo, if you visit them in one day, Okunitama Shrine will inevitably be the first or last. I had the unfortunate experience of thinking to visit on another day, but ended up going there on March 31st and only visiting four shrines.

By the way, the route I took was to get off at JR Iidabashi Station, cross the bridge and head to the first shrine, "Tokyo Daijingu" (www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp). The chozuya (purification fountain) covered in Japanese cypress leaves has a refreshing feeling that makes you feel purified all at once. This "Tokyo Daijingu" is a very popular shrine that is known as the god of matchmaking. There are many matchmaking-related goods such as fortune-telling slips, votive plaques and goshuin stamps, so it's a shrine that every girl should go to!

Next, we went to Yasukuni Shrine (www.yasukuni.or.jp). I walked there. It was fun to walk around an unfamiliar part of Tokyo, passing by a certain very rich girls' school. At Yasukuni Shrine, I enjoyed looking for the standard cherry blossom tree in Tokyo. There is also a museum where you can buy navy curry.

We then headed to Hie Shrine. We passed by Hanzomon, and I hope you'll stop by Le Grenier à Pain on the way. The baker there is so handsome, I'm surprised lol (side note). Hie Shrine (www.hiejinja.net) is a shrine in the big city of Tokyo, with skyscrapers towering behind it. However, it is on top of a mountain, and if you go around to the back and head towards Akasaka, you will find a staircase lined with torii gates like those at Fushimi Inari Shrine, which may not be well known. Yes, it's a photogenic spot. Don't forget to go around to the back after praying.

Well, the fourth shrine is Meiji Shrine (www.meijijingu.or.jp), which is a must-visit for New Year's visits. I took the train from Hie Shrine to Meiji Shrine. The approach to Meiji Shrine is long, so it might be a good idea to walk along the path looking for your favorite large tree. You can't use the famous Kiyomasa's Well as a wallpaper image unless you pay the entrance fee and proceed through the garden. Sorry.

Finally, the fifth shrine is Ookunitama Shrine (www.ookunitamajinja.or.jp). The main deity here is Okuninushi, the same as Izumo Taisha. He is said to be the god of matchmaking and protection from evil. The Fuchu Racecourse is next door. It might be a good idea to try your luck in the new year while watching the majestic horses.

So, put on your kimono, stand up straight, and head off to visit the five shrines for your first visit of the year.

At VASARA Ginza, we have a wide selection of kimonos, including komon kimonos perfect for walking around town, hakama kimonos, and 2-shaku sleeve kimonos that go well with hakama. If you're planning on touring the five shrines in one day, a hakama and boots might be just the thing for you.

Many people may not know how to protect themselves from the cold when wearing a kimono in winter. In winter, you can wear haori coats and shawls, so you can have fun with it. It's a happy way to make up your mind. Please tell the staff at our Ginza store how you want to wear it. We will be happy (and enjoyable?) to help you coordinate your outfit. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.