Another Japanese new year tradition is to visit a temple and pray for good luck in the coming year. Last year I went to the shrine at Mt. Oyama. This year I decided to go to a bit more famous place: Kawasaki Taishi Temple. Famous in Japan means crowded. There were lots and lots of people lined up even way before the entrance of the temple to pray for the new year. On the upside, there were lots of vendors and stands selling all kinds of new years items, food, and ‘amazake‘ which is the famous drink in the area.

The entrance.

The line way before the entrance.

Near the famous temple there is a small shrine with not as many people. This is more my style…

Like last year, this year I got up early to watch the first sunrise of the new year. This year was not as high of a mountain, more of a big hill near my house, but the view was nonetheless beautiful. It was also not as cold

The first sunrise of 2011

Mt. Omaru (156m)

There was also a great view of Mt. Fuji.