Achi Shrine New Year Festival (Visited January 3, 2020) ～ What We Enjoyed and What We Found Challenging on Our First Shrine Visit with Children

A little after 11 a.m. on January 3, 2020, I went for my first shrine visit of the year to Achi Shrine, near the Bikan Historical Area, with my 9- and 6-year-old children.

I was worried it would be crowded that day, but contrary to my expectations, the shrine grounds were not very busy.

Since Achi Shrine is in the middle of town, it is easy to plan activities before or after your first shrine visit, making it a recommended spot.

Here is an account of our visit.

Achi Shrine — the chief guardian shrine watching over Kurashiki from atop the hill. The Achi Wisteria is another highlight

As you walk along the Kurashiki River in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area, you can see a small hill to the northeast. This is Mt. Tsurugata, and the shrine visible at its summit is Achi Shrine. Achi…

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New Year events at Achi Shrine

Achi Shrine holds a variety of New Year events from 10:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve through January 3.

There is also a temporary parking lot for visitors arriving by car in the grounds of nearby Kurashiki-Higashi Elementary School.

That's very helpful.

Please note that parking in the elementary school grounds is not available in rainy weather.

A report on our first shrine visit at Achi Shrine

We visited via the West Approach.

After climbing the stone steps, a straight path continued for about five minutes.

We arrived at the temizuya (purification fountain).

It was cold, but we washed our hands and rinsed our mouths.

As we purified our hands and so on, we could hear music from the shrine that sounded like traditional Japanese instruments (gagaku instruments?).

After walking a little farther, we reached the entrance to the shrine grounds.

It seemed that many people had come via the South Approach from the Bikan Historical Area, and a very long line had formed in front of the worship hall.

Since we had come via the West Approach, we would have had to go down the stone steps of the South Approach and join the line to worship at the hall…

It seemed difficult to wait in such a long line with the children, so we gave up on visiting the worship hall and continued into the shrine grounds.

Once inside, it wasn't as crowded as I had feared.

What the grounds of Achi Shrine are like

To the left of the worship hall is a place to write on ema (votive plaques), called the ema hall.

We had a great view of Kurashiki's streets from here.

Further along, we found amazake being served.

It is available until it runs out.

Further back, you can draw an omikuji fortune.

My younger son was delighted to draw a great blessing!!

After drawing an omikuji, you tie it at the designated tying area.

Further along, several small shrines (subsidiary shrines on the grounds) stood in a row, so we prayed at one that wasn't busy.

I heard that freshly pounded mochi was handed out from 10 a.m. on January 1 through 3.

A notice said it would be available until it ran out, and I had hoped to arrive as early as possible, but we didn't make it in time; it was already gone by around 11:30 that day…

Next time we visit for New Year, I think we'll go earlier.

What was the sound echoing through Achi Shrine?

As we walked around the shrine grounds, we could hear the beautiful sound of a flute.

We spotted someone performing on the Noh stage beside the shrine grounds.

And what was in his hand? A chikuwa!

It was Sumitaku Masato, famous for playing the chikuwa flute.

He played beautifully not only on chikuwa, but also on lotus root.

The sound was so lovely you wouldn't believe it came from a chikuwa, and he also played popular songs such as “Paprika,” which really got the crowd going.

There were also many performances you don't usually get to see, including dance, koto, and theremin.

Things to note when visiting Achi Shrine with children

Here are some things I noticed when visiting for New Year with children.

If visiting with a stroller, avoid the stone steps and use the sloping approach

There is no ramp on the approach, where stone steps continue, and I saw people carrying strollers up and down.

If you’re visiting the shrine with a baby, it’s worth taking care.

There is a sloped approach beside the South Approach, so use that route.

The restroom may smell

There was a restroom in the shrine grounds with a changing table, but it smelled so bad that I hesitated to go in.

It seems the restroom can smell during busy periods, such as New Year’s.

If you’re concerned, there is a clean, spacious restroom with a changing table at Sanste South Exit, the shopping mall attached to JR Kurashiki Station, so you can use that one beforehand for peace of mind.

Impressions of the New Year’s visit to Achi Shrine

Achi Shrine is close to JR Kurashiki Station, and after our first shrine visit of the New Year, we enjoyed walking home while taking in the view of the Bikan Historical Area.

Even though it was during the first three days of the New Year, almost all the shops were open as usual, and the area was bustling with tourists.

We got to hear a rare performance on a chikuwa flute, making it an enjoyable first shrine visit of the New Year for both parent and child.

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