Braving the cold: Japan's New Year's rituals, in photos

News > National News

A participant pours cold water over himself to purify his soul and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A participant pours cold water over himself to purify his soul and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants pray after pouring cold water over themselves to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants pray after pouring cold water over themselves to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Members of the public try to catch rice cakes thrown after the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Members of the public try to catch rice cakes thrown after the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants pray after bathing in ice-cold water to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants pray after bathing in ice-cold water to purify their souls and wish for good health during a New Year ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare to bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare for the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants prepare for the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants bathe in ice-cold water to purify their souls and pray for good health during a New Year's ritual at Teppozu Inari Shrine in Tokyo, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A participant during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A participant during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Participants carry a portable shrine 'mikoshi', during the Winter Sea Misogi Festival, a Shinto purification ritual marking the New Year, in Numazu, Japan, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

5:14 AM on Sunday, January 11

By LOUISE DELMOTTE

People gathered in Tokyo and Numazu to brave ice-cold water in purification rituals meant to pray for good health during the New Year.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

This content is used here with permission. To view the original visit: https://apnews.com/article/japan-new-years-ice-baths-02744e3c8fb287175c979b8a54fd44a0
 

You might also be interested in:

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

  • SEKULOW
    2:00PM - 3:00PM
     
    Jay Sekulow Live is the daily radio outreach of the American Center for Law and   >>
     
  • The Hugh Hewitt Show
    3:00PM - 5:00PM
     
    Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media   >>
     
  • The American Adversaries with Christopher Hart and Company
    5:00PM - 7:00PM
     
    The Titans of Talk Radio The Voice to be Reckoned With “Political, Professional   >>
     
  • Contractor Talk
    7:00PM - 8:00PM
     
    Get insight on services that help those who have suffered from building damage   >>
     
  • The Larry Elder Show
    8:00PM - 10:00PM
     
    Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from   >>
     

See the Full Program Guide