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Date and Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Sagicho Shinji is held every January 15 from 7:00 AM. The burning follows the ceremony, and the fire usually dies down about an hour after the start, around 8:00 AM. The ritual site is an open area on the north side of Genji Pond (\u6e90\u6c0f\u6c60), next to Tsurugaoka Kindergarten (\u9db4\u5ca1\u5e7c\u7a1a\u5712), on the east side of the approach to the Main Shrine (\u672c\u5bae).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At the site stands the saito (\u3055\u3044\u3068), a cone of green bamboo filled with New Year decorations and covered on the outside with straw ropes. The saito is usually more than 3 meters tall, and its number and shape vary from year to year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 7:00 AM, the priests arrive and the ceremony begins at an altar set up in front of the saito, with a purification rite (shubatsu, \u4fee\u7953), Shinto prayers (norito, \u795d\u8a5e) and the offering of sacred branches (tamagushi, \u7389\u4e32). Onlookers also bow their heads and pray together with a representative of the worshippers. When the ceremony ends, a priest carries the sacred fire to the base of the saito and lights it, and the flames rise with loud cracks from the bursting bamboo. The New Year decorations that people have brought are also thrown into the fire. During the burning, the priests hand out the mandarin oranges that were offered at the altar to the onlookers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watching the Ritual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Many people come with their own New Year decorations, and these are burned on the spot. The shrine does not publish detailed rules on what you can bring, so if you are unsure, ask the shrine office. A fire engine stands by near the site. The grounds are cold in the early morning, and smoke fills the air during the burning, so dress warmly and do not get too close to the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the New Year visit from New Year’s Eve through the first three days of January, including how the lines and crowds work, see Hatsumode at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine<\/a>. For the work-starting ceremony of Kamakura’s builders, held in front of the Maiden (\u821e\u6bbf) on January 4, see Chona Hajime Shiki at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Kamakura Station (\u938c\u5009\u99c5) or from Enoden (\u6c5f\u30ce\u96fb) Kamakura Station. If you are staying at Toshi’s Place, take the Enoden from Hase Station (\u9577\u8c37\u99c5) or Wadazuka Station (\u548c\u7530\u585a\u99c5) to Kamakura Station, then walk along Wakamiya-oji Avenue (\u82e5\u5bae\u5927\u8def)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A ritual that starts at 7:00 AM is easy to attend when you stay overnight in Kamakura. At Toshi’s Place, fully unstaffed smart hotels with fully equipped kitchens and room-only stays, you can head out for the early-morning ritual at your own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Sagicho Shinji at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine takes place every January 15 from 7:00 AM beside Genji Pond, where New Year decorations are burned to send off the toshigami. Dress for the early-morning cold. For the shrine’s highlights throughout the year, see Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccess | Visiting During Your Stay at Toshi’s Place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Basic Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n