The Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, which is dedicated to the deity of learning Sugawara no Michizane, started offering good luck charms for the new year on Tuesday in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture.
The shrine has extended the period in which it will receive the traditional New Year visits by two months -- until the end of March -- to avoid creating crowds to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. The good luck charms will be available until then as well.
There are eight kinds of charms, including hamaya evil-repelling arrows and ox figurines symbolizing the animal on the Chinese zodiac.
When handling charms, a special tray is used to avoid direct contact between miko shrine maidens and visitors.
"I hope visitors will be calm and relaxed when they visit the shrine and avoid crowding," a 24-year-old miko said.
The shrine asks those with a fever to refrain from visiting. It will also set up a large monitor on the premises to remind visitors to wear masks and maintain social distance.
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