2026, the Year of the Horse

A drawing of the Itabashi Ward mascot, Rinrin-chan, riding his toy horse. The main phrase of text says kinga shinnen (a formal way of saying Happy New Year). Image copyright © Itabashi-ku 2026

Visiting a shrine at the end of the old year isn’t what most Japanese people do, but it’s a great way to beat the crowds and enjoy some quiet time to reflect on the past year, and make wishes for the new year.

Photos shot with iPhone 15 Pro. Edited in Adobe Lightroom Classic.