Casual — to friend
Cultural · Seasonal
You
初詣はもう行きましたか？どの神社に行かれましたか？
はつもうではもういきましたか？どのじんじゃにいかれましたか？
Have you done your first shrine visit of the year yet? Which shrine did you go to?
Romaji: Hatsumōde wa mō ikimashita ka? Dono jinja ni ikaremashita ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, Meiji Jingū ni ikimashita!
Reply
はい、明治神宮に行きました！
はい、めいじじんぐうにいきました！
Yes, I went to Meiji Jingū!
Gesture & etiquette
Casual, warm new-year-conversation tone. This is ideal small talk in early January. Natural follow-ups: 'おみくじは何でしたか？' (What did your fortune slip say?) — a fun topic that most Japanese enjoy sharing.
Hatsumōde (first shrine visit of the new year) happens January 1-3. Many visit famous shrines like Meiji Jingū in Tokyo or Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, which draw millions of visitors. People pray for health, success, and happiness; purchase omamori (amulets) and omikuji (fortune slips); and ring out the old year's misfortunes.