{"id":29455,"date":"2026-11-11T19:44:09","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T10:44:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kamakuraguide.com\/?page_id=29455"},"modified":"2026-11-11T22:11:21","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T13:11:21","slug":"tsurugaoka-hachimangu-nenmatsu-oharae","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kamakuraguide.com\/en\/kamakura-station-east\/tsurugaoka-hachimangu-kamakura\/tsurugaoka-hachimangu-nenmatsu-oharae\/","title":{"rendered":"Year-End Oharae and Koshinsatsu Shonosai at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (\u9db4\u5ca1\u516b\u5e61\u5bae \u5e74\u672b\u5927\u7953\u30fb\u53e4\u795e\u672d\u713c\u7d0d\u796d)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"The
The Maiden, where the Oharae is held (Photo: Kirin7739<\/a>, CC BY 4.0<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Year-End Oharae and Koshinsatsu Shonosai at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every year on December 31, New Year’s Eve, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine (\u9db4\u5ca1\u516b\u5e61\u5bae)<\/a> in Kamakura (\u938c\u5009) holds the year-end Oharae (\u5927\u7953), the Great Purification, and the Koshinsatsu Shonosai (\u53e4\u795e\u672d\u713c\u7d0d\u796d), a ritual burning of old talismans. The Oharae is a Shinto rite that cleanses the sins and impurities (kegare, \u7a62\u308c) people take on without realizing it in daily life, so they can return to a pure heart and welcome the New Year. Anyone can take part. In the Koshinsatsu Shonosai, ofuda (\u304a\u672d) talismans and omamori (\u304a\u5b88\u308a) amulets returned to the shrine with thanks for a year of protection are burned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Illustrated
The illustration is for reference only<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Date and Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The year-end Oharae is usually held three times, at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM, followed by the Koshinsatsu Shonosai at 4:00 PM. Both rites are also held on June 30. At 5:00 PM on the same December 31, the Joyasai (\u9664\u591c\u796d) takes place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You sign up for the Oharae at the reception on the day. When you fill in a participation form, you receive a sheet with the Oharae no Kotoba (\u5927\u7953\u8a5e), the Great Purification prayer, along with kirinusa (\u5207\u9ebb) and a hitogata (\u4eba\u5f62). Participants gather on the west side of the Maiden (\u821e\u6bbf), the shrine’s dance hall, and recite the prayer together with the priests lined up on the Maiden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, you scatter the kirinusa, small pieces of hemp and paper, over yourself in three motions. Then you stroke your body with the hitogata, a paper cut in the shape of a person, and breathe on it to transfer your sins and impurities to it. The priests collect the hitogata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Old ofuda and omamori are returned at the collection place on the left as you face the Oishidan (\u5927\u77f3\u6bb5), the Grand Stone Staircase, just before you climb it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joining and Watching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n