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[2025 Fukuoka Prefecture New Year's Shrine Visit Guide] Mekari Shrine, the God of Guidance and Purification
At the beginning of the year, people visit shrines and temples to give thanks for the past year and pray for safety and happiness in the new year.
We will introduce you to some shrines in Fukuoka Prefecture that you should visit for your first visit of the year.
Mekari Shrine, known for the Mekari Ceremony (Moji, Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City)
Mekari Shrine is said to have been founded 1,800 years ago and is located at the northernmost tip of Kyushu, facing the Kanmon Straits.
It enshrines Seoritsuhime, the moon goddess who is said to be the goddess of guidance that controls the ebb and flow of the tides and the goddess of purification that cleanses impurities. It is the perfect place to visit for prayers at important milestones and turning points.
Image: Mekari Shrine
The shrine is famous for the Mekari Shinto Ritual, which is held early in the morning on New Year's Day of the lunar calendar (January 29, 2025). After the Yudate Kagura dance is dedicated, three priests descend into the ocean at low tide, harvest seaweed with sickles, and offer it to the altar to pray for safe voyages and a bountiful catch.
It is said to be a divine ritual that brings good fortune, and has been designated as an "Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Fukuoka Prefecture." The sight of it being performed in pitch black darkness, relying only on the light of a large torch, is a mystical sight.
<2025 Mekari Ceremony>
[Yutate Kagura] Tuesday, January 28th, 11pm-1am (cancelled in case of rain)
[Ceremony] Wednesday, January 29th, 2:30-4:00 (rain or shine)
*Temporary parking available (50 spaces)
Check out the unique "Shrine Office"
One of the most impressive things about Mekari Shrine, which was renovated in 2019, is the gift shop where you can receive gifts such as amulets and lucky charms.
Image: Mekari Shrine
In the center is a rock called the Ukeiwa, which is a part of the deity, and when you receive an amulet, you place the amulet on top of the rock and the priest rings a bell from above. This is said to divide the god's soul into each amulet.
The white-themed gifts are also stylish. They range from cute fortune-telling slips such as the "Wooden Carved Fortune-telling Slip" (500 yen) named after the Kanmon Strait's specialty, the puffer fish, and the "One Year Lucky Fortune-telling Slip" (300 yen), a paper-mache puffer fish with a fortune-telling slip stuck on its tail, to "Purifying Salt" (500 yen) harvested from the Kanmon Strait, and "Presented Wakame Seaweed" (500 yen), which is a gift made from auspicious seaweed in honor of the Mekari Shinto ritual.
If you are a stamp collector, don't miss the "Pre-written stamps" (500 yen) and the "Stamp book" (2,500 yen) featuring the shrine's divine crest, the double cherry blossom, on the cover.
Enjoy a beautiful sunset
In front of you, across the Kanmon Strait, stands a lantern that was donated by parishioners about 400 years ago. The contrast with the container ships passing through the sea is striking.
The evening view from the shrine is also beautiful, so be sure to enjoy it too.
Year-end and New Year events
The shrine office is open from 23:00 on December 31st to 19:00 on January 1st, and from 8:00 to 19:00 on January 2nd and 3rd. *The shrine grounds are always open.
From 11pm on December 31st, the gift of dried wakame will be given out. *The gift of dried wakame is available for a fee and will end while supplies last.
The New Year's festival will be held from midnight on January 1st.
The first three days of the New Year are expected to be very busy. Please check the surrounding traffic conditions before heading out. (Text/ARNE Editorial Department)
<Facility information>
■ Mekari Shrine
Address: 3492 Moji, Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Access: From JR Mojiko Station, take the Nishitetsu bus and get off at Mekari Jinja-mae stop
HP:https://www.mekarijinja.com/
X:@mekarijinja
*This article contains information current at the time of publication.
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*Mekari Shrine
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