初 宮 参(はつみやまい)り

はつみやまいり

noun

baby's first shrine visit

1. baby's first shrine visit

A traditional ceremony in which a newborn baby is brought to a Shinto shrine for the first time, typically around one month after birth, to pray for the child's health and protection.

赤(あか)ちゃんの初宮参(はつみやまい)りに行(い)った。

We went for the baby's first shrine visit.

初宮参(はつみやまい)りでは家族(かぞく)全員(ぜんいん)が正装(せいそう)した。

The whole family dressed formally for the baby's first shrine visit.

祖母(そぼ)が赤(あか)ちゃんを抱(だ)いて初宮参(はつみやまい)りをするのが、昔(むかし)からの習(なら)わしだ。

It is a longstanding custom for the grandmother to hold the baby during the first shrine visit.

A compound of 初(はつ) (first), 宮(みや) (shrine), and 参(まい)り (visit, pilgrimage). Also commonly called お宮参(みやまい)り.

Traditionally performed on the 31st or 32nd day after birth for boys, and the 32nd or 33rd day for girls, though modern families are more flexible with timing. The baby is typically dressed in a white inner garment (白(しろ)い着物(きもの)) with a formal outer robe (祝(いわい)着(ぎ)), and a Shinto priest performs a blessing.

This is one of the major life-cycle rituals (通過儀礼(つうかぎれい)) in Japan, along with 七五三(しちごさん) and 成人式(せいじんしき).

Common collocations

初宮参(はつみやまい)りの写真(しゃしん): first shrine visit photos
初宮参(はつみやまい)りの着物(きもの): shrine visit kimono
初宮参(はつみやまい)りの祈祷(きとう): first shrine visit prayer

Related words

お宮参(みやまい)り: shrine visit — the more common everyday name for this ceremony
七五三(しちごさん): 7-5-3 festival — another major childhood shrine visit at ages 3, 5, and 7
お食(く)い初(ぞ)め: baby's first meal ceremony — typically at 100 days after birth

Related Words

Related: お宮参(みやまい)り (shrine visit)

Related: 七五三(しちごさん) (7-5-3 festival)

Related: お食(く)い初(ぞ)め (baby's first meal ceremony)

general

Added 2026.4.20 23:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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