すす払い (susuharai) is the cleaning ritual that takes place at the end of the calendar year in Japan with with diligent dusting in homes, offices, temples and shrines.

One of the most important shrines in Kamakura, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu (鶴岡八幡宮) went through its annual cleaning on the 13th. Around 130 people including Shinto priests took part in the ritual. A bamboo broom called a susutake is used for dusting the shrine. 2 million people are expected to visit the shrine in the first few days of the New Year.

Likewise, Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (成田山新勝寺) in Narita City also went through its annual cleaning on the morning of the 13th with over 80 people taking part. For high ceilings and other areas that are out of reach, a long (at least 6m in length) branch of sasatake was used to aid in dusting. The temple anticipates 3 million visitors over the first 3 days of the New Year.