Casual — to friend
Cultural · Religion
今年の初詣はどちらに行かれましたか？お願いごとはなさいましたか？ — Where did you go for your New Year shrine visit this year? Did you make any wishes? (Cultural · Religion, Casual — to friend, JLPT N4)
You
今年の初詣はどちらに行かれましたか？お願いごとはなさいましたか？
ことしのはつもうでははどちらにいかれましたか？おねがいごとはなさいましたか？
Where did you go for your New Year shrine visit this year? Did you make any wishes?
Romaji: Kotoshi no hatsumōde wa dochira ni ikaremashita ka? Onegaigoto wa nasaimashita ka? / Reply Romaji: Jimoto no jinja ni itta yo. Kotoshi wa kazoku minna genki de irarereru you ni tte onegai shite kita yo.
Reply
地元の神社に行ったよ。家族みんな元気でいられるようにってお願いしてきたよ。
じもとのじんじゃにいったよ。かぞくみんなげんきでいられるようにっておねがいしてきたよ。
I went to the local shrine. I prayed for all my family to stay healthy this year.
Gesture & etiquette
This is a natural small-talk topic in January. If invited to join someone's hatsumode, follow shrine etiquette (二礼二拍手一礼) and join the queue patiently. The shared ritual of visiting the shrine together strengthens social bonds at the new year.
初詣 (hatsumōde) is the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year — typically January 1-3. Popular shrines like 明治神宮 (Tokyo) draw millions of visitors, causing very long lines. Purchasing an お守り (omamori, protective amulet) and お神籤 (omikuji, fortune slip) are traditional parts of the visit.