New Year's Day @ Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

It is already now at the end of December....
Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?

On New Year's Day many Japanese go to the shrine to worship.
If you are coming to Hiroshima for those days, why don't you go to Gokoku Shrine?
Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine（広島護国神社） is a Shinto shrine  next to Hiroshima Castle.Every year many people.... more than 600,000 people visit there in the first three days of the new year for Hatsumode(初詣）,the first visit of the year to a shrine.

This is how we worship at shrines;
1) Ring the bell
2) Throw change gently in the offering box
3) Two bows,
    two claps and one bow
 




Opening Hours
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＊Dec 31st   ～24：00

＊Jan 1st    0：00～23：00
＊Jan 2nd  8：00～22：00
＊Jan 3rd  8：00～22：00
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EVENTS

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◎Dec 31st（大晦日　Oomisoka)

17:00～　大祓式・除夜祭　
　　　　New Year's Eve  Celemony

◎Jan 1st (元旦　Gantan) 

0:00～　初神楽奉奏（巫女舞）　Kagura

10:00～ 歳旦祭　New Year's Day Celemony

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◆Access　Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine
Take a Tram No.2 or 6 to Kamiyacho-Higashi stop from Hiroshima Sta.
Another 8min walk to the shrine

Have a good New Year's holiday!



** Be Careful ! **

The Peace Memorial Museum will be closed 
on Dec 30th and 31st.

A-bomb Dome Illuminations

Hello, this is TOMOMI from Hiroshima HANA!

In 2016, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hiroshima’s iconic Atomic Bomb Dome as an UNESCO World Heritage site.

Trees around the A-bomb Dome are now decorated with strings of blue LEDs and orizuru peace crane decorations. The blue color is said to symbolize peace.
The Hiroshima City Government hopes that the blue Illuminations spread a message of peace to the world.

Still, some people claimed that it's not the right place to have Illuminations.
But the Hiroshima City Government explained that they want more people to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Park and think how important "peace" is.

Personally, I think that is not a bad idea, because now it's more easy to recommend our guests to visit the Atomic Bomb Dorm, even in the evening. It should not be too dark with the blue lights. So the event gives more opportunities for visitors!

What do you think?

A-bomb Dome Illuminations
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2016 Dec 7th ～ 2017 Feb 5th

5:30pm to 10:30pm

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Chinka-sai MIYAJIMA

KONNICHIWA from Hiroshima Hanahostel, This is Kana here.
I just can't believe that it is already in December and we will have new year in less than a month...Time flies... There are many exciting events in December such as X'mas, New year Eve and so on.
What is your plan for that?? Hope all of you will have great holiday.

To whom considering to visit Japan for the new year eve, why don't you go to MIYAJIMA which is one of world heritage in Hiroshima.

CHINKA-SAI

Date:December 31st18:00 (6:00pm)

Chinka-sai is Fire Prevention Festival, takes place on the last day of the year in front of Itsukushima Shrine.

Local people make both large and small pine torches throughout the month of December. 

On the evening of the 31st, as twilight falls, families gather at the shore near the O-torii(Grand gate).

 One huge torch is carried from the Shrine and all of the other torches, including individual pine torches are lit. 

The larger pine torch is carried by around 40 men on their shoulder's, while children carry smaller ones. 

As the torches intensely burn the coastline become a combination of fire and water as the people run about chanting "Yoi, Yoi."  You should say it out in a loud voice with them too!

 It must be great fun! Just be like a local people!!

After the festival, the embers from the torches are offered to family alters as a good luck charm to prevent fire and to welcome the New Year. You might be able to get it too!! The thing is you CAN bring it back your country or NOT...

To Miyajima is only 25minutes from Hiroshima station and another 10 minutes by ferry, EASY access from Hana hostel!

I hope the New Year finds you in excellent spirit!

a dedicatory Bugaku for MIYAJIMA

Do you know Bugaku?
It's a traditional Japanese court music accompanied by dancing.
It's coming a 20th anniversary as world heritage for MIYAJIMA.

You can enjoy a spacial Bugaku in MIYAJIMA!!









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 DATE : 2016, December  6th　  from the efternoon
 PLACE : the stage at ITSUKUSHIMA shrine
 ACCESS : 15minutes from ＪＲ Sanyo line Miyajimaguchi st. by ferry
                 and walk 10minutes
 FEE : 300yen for the entrance shrine
 H P : http://www.miyajima.or.jp/event/calendar12.html

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