Why don’t you experience some part of the Japanese traditions as we do from the New Year’s Eve to the New Year’s Day? Most of Japanese people, excluding those who do not like to go out home in such a cold day, will usually go to a shrine and a temple nearby for praying for peace in the new year.
There are some livestreams bringing you landscapes and atmospheres from well-known hot spots around the country. (The number of worshipers reach a peak in the midnight and at the dawn of the new year’s day at most locations. For your reference, Japan Standard Time is nine hours ahead of UTC, Universal Time, Coordinated.)
(The picture above is used under the Creative Commons License of Attibution-Noncommercial 2.0 Generic. Taken by Get Hiroshima and quoted from his photostream on Flickr.)
- Shinano Kokubunji Temple
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/kokubu.html
- The Temple of Kitamukai Kannon
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/kouyou5.html
- Ikushima Tarushima Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/ikushima.html
- Ouchi Hayao Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/ouchi.html
(You’ll be able to enjoy watching Kagura, ancient Shinto music and dancing. It starts around 11:30pm on the New Year’s Eve in Japan local.)
- Ooboshi Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/ooboshi1.html
- Shinano Omiyasha Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/oomiyasan.html
- Yamaga Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/yamaga.html
- Shiratori Shrine
http://live.ueda.ne.jp/shiratori1.html
- Asakusa Senso-ji Temple (One of foreign tourists’ must-visit spot)
http://www.nakaya.co.jp/live_camera.html
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/geo1119
- Shopping Arcade lead to Kawasaki Daishi Temple
http://www.hyobando.co.jp/camera3.htm
- Dazaifu Shrine
http://www.kbc.co.jp/livecamera/dazaifu/
- The Pacific Ocean from the Inubozaki(cape) Lighthouse (for viewing the new year’s first sunrise)
http://www6.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/choshi/kisyou/livecamera/camera.htm
- Mt. Fuji seen from His North Foot (for viewing the new year’s first sunrise)
http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/move/html/index_101.html
From all Asiajin contributors, wishing you a New Year sparkling with happiness, success and joy.
Masaru IKEDA