New Year's Eve and the Morning After

Me and Mathias was invited to spend new years (お正月). I recommend you read a little bit about what should happen during this celebration, since it really differs from how it is celebrated in Sweden. Japanese New Year

This is my new years make up, you cant really see that it is sparkling but it is.

We met in Ebisu around 8 pm to have the traditional soba (noodles).

We had to stand in line to wait for our table, but was treated with very nice tasting soba tea while waiting.

Inside the very cozy restaurant. I will go back some other day because the soba was really good.

Itoko looking like a princess I think. Too bad it is out of focus.

I had cold soba with tempura. Very tasty.

After eating, we went to a bar in Ebisu, to kill some time and to have a glass of champagne.Then the real fun starts. We took the train to shinjuku (the trains that btw are running all night) and changed to OEdo line to get to the temple where the Hanami family grave is. It was super interesting to be invited to take part in this Buddhist tradition. We brought the talisman arrows that Itoko and Mathias had received last year. They have hung in their flats to protect their home from evil the whole year, and now it was time for it to go back to be burned at the temple.

Around midnight, people are lined up to ring the big bell and say a prayer. This is itoko's father ringing the big clock. After ringing the bell we were served very sweet bean soup. Then Itoko's dad invited us to go see their family grave. We had to use a flash light when walking through the graves over the grave yard around he temple. Itoko's dad put some incense at the grave and said hi to their dead grandfather and grandmother.

Then we were invited into the temple and was actually allowed to sit down in the back of the room where the priest sat praying in front of the altar. The protection arrows was in that room too, I guess to collect good protective ability. It was super cool to sit there and hear him read the prayers very rhythmically. I have seen priests at temples before, but never have been invited to sit in the room before. (the old student of religious science awoke inside me again... this was very special).

After this we went inside to get warm and have some tea. But it turns out that the priest's wife and daughters had prepared a whole meal, with tea, mikan, sushi, beer, soup and snacks. We talked to the other people there and it was very cozy and nice atmosphere.

Then it was time to head of for Harajuku and the Meiji-shrine for the first shinto prayer of he year. 

Lots of people were there and we had to wait in line for quite some time before being let up to the centre of the shrine. But we practice the clapping and bowing while waiting. Throw the coins, bow twice, clap twice, say your onegai and then one last bow.

The gates to the shrine was decorated, protection arrows and also Ema (plates to write prayers on) was displayed there (obviously bigger versions of them). And if you have not guessed it by now, this year is the year of the ox. 

Since both me and Itoko have a "oh look how good we look" photo in this post, I have to add one of Mathias too. 

And then we walked back to my flat, opened a bottle of sparkling wine, set the alarm for 6.30 am, and started to wait. Instead of staying awake to wait, all 3 of us ended up under blankets on my warm and nice floor, listening to Rolling Stones and sleeping. 

So why did we want to wake up that early after just an hour's sleep? Well the next step of the New Year celebration was await. To see Hinode, the first sun rise of the year. We stood on the bridge at Yoyogikoen and saw the daylight coming and the the glowing sun appear between two houses. It was very pretty. A good sun rise this day is a good sign for a good year to come. I hope the sun is right.

This old couple was looking the in the wrong direction... why?

Well they had been around before, in the oposite direction of the rising sun, you could see fujisan in his pink morning glow. The air was so clear and you could see him very detailed through my big lens.

It is good to know a good spot for next year. And also next year I will bring my arrow and have it burned. I think I will keep the Ema because that plate is just too cute.

I feel very happy and lucky for having been allowed to spend a very special new year celebration with two very dear friends. I would love to do the same next year if it is possible. And another good thing... a new year's day with out hangover. 

Now I will go call Mathias, because enough cuddling in bed for him now... more breakfast/lunch/early dinner with Mz B.