What is a shrine visit? A summary of what to wear, costs, and what to bring

What is Omiya-mairi?

Omiyamairi is an event where you take a baby about one month old to visit the local shrine. The event is to inform the gods of the baby's safe birth and to pray for the baby's healthy growth. The event is held on a day when the baby and mother are in good health.

In some regions, the shrine visit is also called "Hatsumiya Mairi" or "Hatsumiya Mode."

What to wear for a shrine visit?

For babies visiting the shrine, the proper attire is to wear "birth clothes (celebration clothes/noshime)". Recently, it has become common to dress babies in baby dresses or rompers as innerwear. If wearing traditional Japanese clothing, the innerwear is called "shirahabutae".

Whether you are wearing Western or Japanese clothing, the baby clothes are placed over the innerwear. It is not something that the baby actually wears, but rather something that is placed over the person holding the baby.

Mom and family members’ clothing

The basic rule is that the mother and relatives should dress in a way that matches the baby's outfit. It is recommended to avoid casual or everyday clothing and dress formally.

For mothers, Western clothing such as suits and dresses are recommended, considering breastfeeding etc. For men, it is best to wear suits in calm colors such as navy blue, black, or gray.

When should you go to the shrine?

The timing of the shrine visit varies depending on the region, but it is generally held on the 31st or 32nd day after birth for boys and the 32nd or 33rd day for girls.

However, nowadays, taking into consideration the burden on mothers and babies, many families also hold the ceremony in conjunction with other events such as "Oshichiya" on the seventh day after birth, "Hyakujitsu iwai" on the 100th day after birth, and "Okuizome" (first meal).

Without getting too caught up in traditions and local customs, be sure to discuss the timing with your family based on the health of the mother and baby and the weather.

What is the first offering for a shrine visit?

The first offering is money given to the gods before the prayer. The average price is said to be between 5,000 and 10,000 yen.

The amount of the offering varies depending on the shrine. Some shrines have a set amount, so it's a good idea to check the shrine's website or call them in advance to be safe.

What is the etiquette for a shrine visit?

The envelope to wrap the offering should be red and white with a bow-knotted Mizuhiki. Mizuhiki with a knot or awaji knot is used for things that should never happen again, such as wedding gifts and funerals, so it is not appropriate for a shrine visit to celebrate the birth of a baby.

If you can't prepare a gift envelope, you can use a white envelope instead. Whether you use a gift envelope or a white envelope, the proper way to write it is to write "Gohatsuhoryo" at the top and the baby's name at the bottom.

What do I need to bring to a shrine visit?

In addition to the offerings and the costumes, you should also prepare an outfit for your baby. It is useful to make a checklist in advance, imagining the weather and conditions on the day.

[Diapers ]

Prepare items according to your baby's age and the time you will be going out. Bring a little extra.

[Baby wipes ]

If you prepare a small amount for when you go out or in a plastic bag with a zipper, it won't take up much space.

【 milk 】

Be sure to bring along everything you need, such as baby bottles, powdered milk, and hot water for preparing the formula.

[ Breastfeeding cape ]

This is useful in facilities that do not have nursing rooms or outdoors. It can also be used as a substitute for a scarf.

[ Changing clothes ]

Babies sweat a lot, so it's a good idea to have 2-3 pairs of underwear on hand.

Major shrines along the Nankai Line where you can hold a shrine visit

Finally, we will introduce the main shrines along the Nankai line where you can hold shrine visits.

Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine

This is the head shrine of Sumiyoshi Shrine, which has about 2,300 branches nationwide. It is known as "Sumiyossan" in Osaka, and has been loved for a long time. It is also famous nationwide, with more than 2.3 million visitors at the beginning of the year.

DATA

・Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (amulet gift shop)

・TEL: 06-6672-0753

Address: 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Access: 3 minutes on foot from Sumiyoshi-Taisha Station on the Nankai Main Line

About 5 minutes walk from Sumiyoshi-Higashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line

A short walk from the Sumiyoshi Torii-mae tram stop on the Hankai Tramway Hankai Line

Imamiya Ebisu Shrine

This shrine enshrines Ebisu, the god of prosperity in business. The Toka Ebisu festival, held for three days from January 9th to 11th every year, is a very lively event, attracting approximately one million worshippers every year.

DATA

・Business hours: 9:00-17:00

・TEL: 06-6643-0150

Address: 1-6-10 Ebisu Nishi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Access: 2 minutes on foot from Imamiya-Ebisu Station on the Nankai Koya Line

Create special memories at the shrine visit

This time, we have explained the clothing and costs involved with the shrine visit. Because it is an event to pray for the healthy growth of the baby, the modern way of thinking is to consider the health of the mother and baby first. Be sure to discuss and prepare in advance so that it will be a wonderful memory for the mother, baby, and family.

Original article: https://otent-nankai.jp/category/topic/230721_omiyamairi_939