Meiji Shrine is getting ready to ring in the New Year and is anticipating over 3 million visitors over the course of the first 3 days of 2009.

The gates of the shrine have been decorated with votive tablets with drawings of the Ox (2009 is the Year of the Ox). Large (400 tatami wide) offertory boxes for osaisen (monetary offerings) as well as areas for visitors to purchase good luck charms (omamori) were setup.

Due to the economic crisis, the shrine expects a large turnout for those who will pray for work-related reasons.