Hatsumoude (初詣) is the first shrine visit of the New Year in Japan.
People visit a shrine or sometimes temple and pray for comfort and health in the new year. It is very common to see women in kimono and quite a few men too. A common custom during hatsumōde is to buy a written oracle called omikuji. Also, new o-mamori (charms or amulets) are bought, and the old ones are returned to the shrine so they can be burned.
