On January 2nd, the second day of the New Year, shrines and temples in Kyoto City were bustling with locals and foreign tourists alike, making their first visit of the year since the morning. While Kyoto City was mostly sunny throughout the morning, snow clouds rolled in by the afternoon, bringing intermittent snowfall.
At Kamigamo Shrine (a World Heritage Site) in Kyoto's Kita Ward, worshippers lined up in long lines, clasping their hands together in the main hall and making New Year's resolutions, praying for happiness in the coming year. A 28-year-old office worker visiting with a friend from Osaka's Kita Ward said, "It was sunny when we left that morning, so I was surprised (to see the snow). We came here to pray for happiness in the coming year," as she took commemorative photos within the shrine grounds.
Kamigamo Shrine is known for its sacred horses, which are said to be ridden by gods, and the traditional "Kamo Kurabeuma" horse race, and is considered the birthplace of horse riding. This year, the Year of the Horse, there are said to be more visitors than usual, and the roads around the shrine are crowded with cars and people.
