Hatsu-mode

One of the major spiritual sites of Japan, Narita-san Shinshoji temple attracts worshippers all year round. New year's day, January, May and September are peak worshipping times of the year.

Narita-san's busiest times are New years eve and New year's day. Trains run between Tokyo and Narita all night and the parking areas around Narita-san are full of buses and cars. Temple town is flooded with visitors who make their way towards Narita-san when the New year's bell starts ringing. People pass through Narita-san's entrance gate and climb the stone steps to meet Fudo-myoo (a god) at the main temple where they shower themselves with incense smoke from the large burner.
The first three days are the busiest but the flow of worshippers continues until the beginning of February.