“The Year Begins in Nikko.”
An Exquisite Good-Fortune Kimono Journey to the World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Celebrated in a Houmongi**
How you spend the first days of the New Year shapes how you live the entire year.
Grace and beauty worthy of mature women, combined with the profound history and spiritual power of Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
The “New Year Good-Fortune Kimono Guide” invites you to declare:
“Next New Year’s shrine visit—let’s go to Nikko in a houmongi kimono.”
[New Year 2026 Special Edition – A Definitive Guide]
“The Year Begins in Nikko.”
An Exquisite Good-Fortune Kimono Journey to Nikko Toshogu Shrine in a Houmongi
—Dress in a way beloved by the gods. A sacred beginning where you meet your dignified self—
Happy New Year!
(With this heartfelt sentiment, we write in anticipation of the coming New Year.)
We are Misa Endo, Manager of Kimono Rental COCON NIKKO, together with staff member Luna Kodaira.
A brand-new year has begun.
How did you welcome the New Year?
- “I want to try something new this year.”
- “I hope my family stays healthy.”
- “I want to deepen my bond with someone dear to me.”
To carry such hopeful wishes, we make our way to Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year.
And if that destination is Nikko Toshogu Shrine, one of Japan’s most powerful spiritual sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and if your attire is the exquisitely traditional houmongi kimono—
then your visit becomes more than a custom.
It transforms into a special ritual that illuminates your life.
Why is a houmongi the perfect choice for Nikko in the New Year?
Why do so many sophisticated women choose COCON NIKKO’s houmongi plan?
Today, we share with you the essence of “Hatsumode at Nikko Toshogu × Houmongi”—the ultimate way to begin your year beautifully.
Chapter 1: Concept — Why a Houmongi for New Year’s at Nikko Toshogu Shrine?
Visiting a shrine in everyday clothing or casual kimono (komon) is, of course, lovely.
However, in Nikko—especially at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu—there is a compelling reason why the houmongi is the most fitting attire.
1. Wearing Respect and Courtesy
A houmongi is a semi-formal kimono suitable for both married and unmarried women, expressing respect and refinement.
Hatsumode is a New Year’s greeting to the gods.
Just as we dress properly when greeting someone we respect, we show reverence to the divine through our attire.
That spirit of courtesy is embodied in the houmongi.
Standing in prayer, dressed in an elegant houmongi, your sincerity is unmistakable—beautiful in the eyes of the gods, and strong enough to carry your wishes.
2. The Auspicious Joy of Eba Patterns
The defining feature of a houmongi is its continuous pictorial design (eba moyo), flowing seamlessly across seams like a single painting.
Motifs such as pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, peonies, and auspicious symbols transform the kimono into a walking work of art, celebrating the joy of the New Year.
Against Nikko’s snow-dusted cedar trees, the vibrant colors of a houmongi create a breathtaking scene—one that promises a bright year ahead.
3. A Gentle Tension That Awakens the Mind
Houmongi are worn with formal obi styles such as the double-drum knot (nijudaiko).
There is a subtle straightening of the back, a dignified awareness.
This pleasant tension clears away the sluggish New Year mood and switches on a new resolve:
“This year, I will live beautifully.”
Chapter 2: Power Spot — The “Beginning Energy” of Nikko Toshogu Shrine
Once your attire is chosen, it is time to enter the sacred grounds.
Nikko Toshogu is far more than a tourist site. Built with the finest principles of feng shui and Onmyodo, it served as the guardian shrine of the Edo Shogunate—one of Japan’s most powerful spiritual locations.
1. Receiving the Power of the North Star
Nikko Toshogu lies directly north of Edo (modern Tokyo), aligned with the North Star, the immovable center of the universe.
This makes it a place of energy for stability and unshakable foundations.
If you wish for success in your career or strength in your family life, there is no better place to pray.
2. Purification at the National Treasure Yomeimon Gate
Known as the “Gate You Could Watch All Day,” the magnificent Yomeimon Gate is adorned with over 500 carvings.
As you pass beneath it, the gold and silver threads of your houmongi shimmer in the sunlight.
That radiance becomes a ritual of purification—washing away last year’s misfortune and welcoming new blessings.
3. The Sleeping Cat and Sparrows: A Wish for Peace
Behind the famous Sleeping Cat carving, sparrows are shown playing freely.
When the cat sleeps, the sparrows live in peace—a symbol of harmony.
Couples, families, and loved ones pray here for a peaceful year without conflict.
Visiting in a houmongi—an expression of beauty born from peaceful times—strengthens that wish.
Chapter 3: Styling — New Year Houmongi Styles Curated by COCON NIKKO
“Houmongi look difficult to choose…”
Please don’t worry.
At COCON NIKKO, our refined collection and professional coordinators ensure the perfect New Year look.
Recommended Colors & Patterns
Elegant Pastels
- Soft pinks and creams: gentle femininity in New Year light
- Wisteria (lavender): noble and refined
- Motifs: plum, cherry blossom, peony—welcome spring early
Classic, Formal Tones
- Deep pine green: wishes for longevity and enduring love
- Navy and purple: strength, intelligence, and resolve
- Motifs: royal carriages, folding fans, tortoiseshell patterns for good fortune
Accessories That Elevate the Look
- Obiage & obijime woven with gold or silver
- Suehiro folding fan tucked into the obi—a symbol of expanding happiness
- Formal gold-and-silver zori sandals and matching bags
Chapter 4: Course — A Luxurious Hatsumode Model Itinerary
Produced by Misa Endo & Runa Kodaira**
10:00 AM — Getting Ready at COCON NIKKO
Choose your destined kimono while exchanging New Year greetings.
Our professional dressers provide a “magical fit”—comfortable all day, yet flawlessly elegant.
Cold Weather? Leave It to Us.
- Hidden thermal layers beneath the kimono
- Towel padding that traps warm air like a down jacket
- Elegant fur shawls that complement houmongi beautifully
Reservations & Recommended Plans
Kimono Rental COCON NIKKO
- Houmongi Plan (semi-formal, perfect for Hatsumode)
- Couple Plan (houmongi + haori-hakama set)
Year-End & New Year Business Schedule
- Last day of 2025: December 28
- Holiday closure: Dec 29 – Jan 1
- Reopening: January 2, 2026 (Hatsumode dressing available!)
A Message of Gratitude
To all our customers, local community members, and partners—thank you sincerely for 2025.
In 2026, we will continue sharing joy, beauty, and happiness through kimono experiences with the world.
Please take care in the cold season, and may you welcome a wonderful New Year.
We look forward to seeing you on January 2, with bright smiles!
COCON NIKKO — More Than Kimono Rental
Wearing kimono adds extraordinary brilliance to everyday life.
It may open your heart, reveal a new side of yourself, and turn a simple trip into a treasured memory.
COCON NIKKO is not just a rental shop—we are your travel companion, devoted to creating your most beautiful memories in Nikko.
Location: 5 minutes on foot from Tobu-Nikko Station
Hands-free OK: Everything provided
Professional support: Hair, dressing, coordination
Let your story begin here, in Nikko, with COCON NIKKO.
We look forward to welcoming you with warm smiles.