Society

Tokyo shrine visitors pray for good luck in 2022

Jan 01 (NHK) - Worshippers visited a shrine in central Tokyo in the early hours of New Year's Day to pray for good luck in 2022. They maintained social distance to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection.

People kept one meter apart as they waited in line at Meiji Jingu before a drum was beaten to signal the arrival of the New Year.

They threw monetary offerings into a fenced-area and offered prayers.

Such early hour visits were not allowed last year because of the coronavirus.

All-night rail services were also operating for the first time in two years, enabling people to visit temples and shrines and venture out to see the first sunrise of the year.

More than 3 million people usually visit Meiji Jingu in the first three days of the year.

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